How do I get my chicks to be friendly?

How old are they?  You could always try food.  Meal worms have worked wonders for making my chickens friendlier.  Get them to associate a really good treat with you - and they'll come running when they see you.
 

I agree.  Food has always made me friendlier.

Some breeds are naturally more friendly than others, I hand offer food often and handle them as much as possible. I don't think it's in a chickens nature to want to be caught and cuddled so when they are near me I don't always try to grab em, but reach under them and scoop them up from below. They seem to love a gentle ear rub and head scratch. I get them used to being held and handled all over, check the wings and legs and make a clucking noise so they associate that to me. I notice the can soon forget how nice I am to them! So I try to give em as much attention as possible and let them feel they can escape me when they want. Chickens do know voice so talk to them, and use the same cue every time you feed them. It pays off when they get older.

I started off with day-old chicks, Buff Orpingtons. One of the things that I've done is to handle each of them gently each day, so that they get used to being held. Since they were day-olds I worked to get them to eat from my hand, so now that they are spending their days outside...they come running to me when they see me enter the yard. 

 

 

 

They are 4 weeks old now and I'm still in the process of building the coop, so they come in each night. That means that I have to go out and catch them and bring them in at dark. Each morning when I take them out of the aquarium/brooder...I take them outside 2 by 2. While I'm taking each group out, the others patiently wait their turn.

 

 

 

Everytime that I enter the yard I have something for them to eat, a bit of crushed hard boiled egg, bird seed, stale bread...whatever. They come to me to see what I have, and they follow me...or I can guide them if need be to an area of the yard where it is easier for me to collect them and bring them inside.

 

 

They love the garden, so I make a habit of turning over the leaf litter and mulch so that they can easily get to the grubs and worms in the soil. It has  greatly paid off taking the extra time so that I can handle them when I need to...or even just want to....

 

I don't make any sudden or quick movements..this causes them to startle and jump. Pay attention to their behavior, you'll quickly note how to move so that they don't react and startle. Never chase them, it will destroy their trust in you. Handle them often, daily if you can and be gentle when you pick them up. Food is also a very strong motivator with chickens.

Edited by Rock Home Isle - 5/4/12 at 7:49am