5 chicks - just a few days old - wow!

[KCCP]

I've been wanting to raise a few backyard chickens for years. I just started brooding my first chicks. Three for me and two for a friend who wants to add to his flock. I am looking for advice on how to train them to like me and not be frightened when I handle them, clean their box or change their food and water. Any advice will be welcome!

 

[drumstick diva]

the way to a chickens heart is thru their stomach.

 

[salt and pepper]

Give them lot's of treats, and hold them at least once a day. I did this, and they will follow you every where, and let you pick them up =) It also help if you speak to them ( I know....) when you are cleaning their brooder, this way they get used to your voice.

 

[Jeanna Marie]

Welcome! Hold them every day and talk to them. Mine are 2-6 days old and they love to hear me talk. They stand still and listen. I have noticed that if I talk first they don't get as skittish when I stick my hand in the brooder. One of them even tries to get on my hand now...its too cute.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!!

Glad you joined us!!

 

[redsoxs]

Howdy from Kansas, KCCP, and

! Pleased you joined our flock! Just keep after them and bribe them with treats! Good luck to you!

 

[thasista]

Hi from Kentucky!

 

[sourland]

Move slowly and speak in a low calm voice when interacting with them - food is indeed the key to a chickens' trust. Welcome to BYC.

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[chart]

I've been wanting to raise a few backyard chickens for years. I just started brooding my first chicks. Three for me and two for a friend who wants to add to his flock. I am looking for advice on how to train them to like me and not be frightened when I handle them, clean their box or change their food and water. Any advice will be welcome!

Everyone had the perfect advice. I'm raising all 10 of mine in large dog crates in my office/living room. I spend a lot of time in there. I play them the chicken songs and chicken dances on Youtube and they love it! I interact with them all the time. The oldest batch is a little over 4 wks. and the others are 5 days behind. I live in Central AZ. and it is still very cold at night, but having some high 60's and sometimes 70° afternoons. I built a temporary "red-neck playpen" outside for them and I truck them out everyday it's warm enough. The pen is big enough for me to sit in so I sometimes sit in with them (well, maybe a lot) and visit or read. They climb all over me, try to rip up my book, tear off my buttons and yes, any mole, freckle or hair on me. When I try to do anything in their brooders they jump right on my hands and arms. Some are friendly to the point of being a pain in the butt! I give them a different healthy treat everyday and they would rather eat out of my hand than a dish. They can see me from their cages when I'm in the kitchen and now everytime they see me at the cutting board, they go into a screaming frenzy. Who would've thought?!? I've done this twice before and ended up with several lap chickens. I hate to admit it, but I have a couple that love to snuggle in my hair as I watch a movie and rock them. Yes, I'm a little chicken crazy... My old rooster grew up like that and even when he was very old he'd get in my lap and stick his head under my armpit and go to sleep. Have fun with them. If you end up with a rooster, believe me, you'll be able to even get him to crow on command. They will follow you everywhere!