Why are my chickens so afraid of me?

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mueri07

mueri07

Songster
Apr 3, 2017
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I have chicks that we just moved from their temporary home to their coop. We have a buff, Rhode Island Red and a Black Sex Link.

The sex link is funny she lets you pick her up and always follows me around. The other two want nothing to do with humans, any ideas suggestions on getting them to like and wanting me to hold them and just be around them?

Thanks
 
Chicks are hard wired to run from anything that tries to grab them, or looms over them. I find letting them come to you is a better choice. Sitting quietly and handing out treats can help. Mine go nuts for scrambled eggs and it has help them to view me in a positive manner. Chicks also seem to go through a fear period where they are more terrified of things. Most suddenly become friendly as they sexually mature and begin laying.
 
Be another month before we get to start seeing watermelon available here, sounds delicious. I would keep at it. Eventually they should come around and realize you are good and not evil.
 
Thank you much, I have spent more time just sitting in coop talking to them letting them peck me and walk on my legs and such. Bonding moments!
thumbsup.gif
 
My last bunch hit sexual maturity and suddenly they were following me everywhere and tripping me, and we're knocking over my cup of coffee and pecking at my hands, they were a pain. Since I started feeding scrambled eggs as an occasional treat, all my birds just stand around in the way now, before they ran in terror. I don't what happened, now it's hard to walk through the shed, and I end up saying excuse me ladies a lot, and I don't even handle mine except to move them.
 
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When does this sexual maturity happen? Pretty consistent with different breeds?
 
It can vary, some are 4 months, like sex links and leghorns, which are egg laying breeds. Dual purpose breeds are generally 5-6 months, which yours look to be, and some bantam, ornamental breeds, and larger breeds can be 7-12 months.
 
Sounds good, thanks. I am also running into problems with the chicks at night they all bunch into one nesting box or the edge of the box. They are not using their roosts? Is there anything I need to be on the look out for? Or is it too high? Low? not enough support? Thanks!
 
Most chicks take a while to learn to roost, so it's not unusual for them to pile somewhere at night. Most start to roost between 2-4 months, some earlier some later. So I wouldn't worry, they will eventually start to use it.
 

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