Am I Making My Chicks "Flighty"?

[berriesncream]

Hello! So, I'm new to this forum, new the chickens! I've got 20 chicks - 4 EE's that are about 3 1/2 weeks old and 16 others (Columbian & BLR Wyandottes, Dominiques, and Mille Fleurs) that are about 1 1/2 weeks. Love these chicks!! I've always known I wanted chickens, but I didn't know they would be so funny!! Anyway . . .

I read somewhere about raising chicks (Storey's Guide, I think) that if your chicks can't see you coming, you should talk or sing quietly while approaching them so that they're not startled everytime they see you and become flighty. My EE girls are fine. They're in their own brooder and don't mine being fooled with. I am concerned about the other girls (wishful thinking - I'm sure there are a few boys in there as well!). They're in a larger brooder, made of old shingles with chicken wire on top. I should mention that all these chicks are in our garage. They are all closed up and reasonably safe from predators, BUT I do like the chicken wire on top JUST IN CASE the dog or cat were to sneak in. The littler chicks are fine when I'm just standing there not fooling with them. But because of how the chicken wire fits over the top of the little girls' brooder, I have to remove it to feed and water the chicks. Also, quite a few of them had pasty bums the first week, so I periodically check some or all of their bottoms. So, of course, every time I go to remove the chicken wire, they all freak out and run to the far corner of the brooder. Frankly, I'm afraid that they're going to smoosh each other, but I'm also concerned that they're going to always be freaked out by me (or other humans) because they're so scared of me now. Am I overthinking this???? I've only raised large livestock before - help me out please!

Thanks

 

[silkiechicken]

They'll get used to you. Generally, it's just a natural reaction for them to freak out at any movement over their heads, especially things like boards, paper airplanes, and the link b/c it's sort of like a hawk. Some birds are just flightier than others too. So just offer treats and they'll love you the same!

 

[schmije]

Yes, treats are a great way to help them get used to you. I've been giving mine mash since they were about a week old. It's just some of their feed mixed with water until it's the consistency of thick oatmeal. My girls think they're getting something really special. The first time I gave it to them it took them a while to figure out that it was food. The second time they practically knocked each other down trying to get to it first. I always scoop up some in my hand, and most of them will eat right from my hand. Now when I walk in the room they all run to the front of the brooder to see me. My chicks are 4.5 weeks old now.

They'll always be skittish about things above their heads, but they may improve over time.

 

[MN Chicken]

For the first couple of days ine would run like crazy because I'd walk in there with my excited 2 and 5 year olds. I game them some regular crumble on a tupperwear container lid, and it is like the greatest thing on earth to them. Now they run to the side and chirp away.

 

[berriesncream]

Thanks. I've been giving them some of their feed mixed with yogurt (which they go crazy for!). I'll try letting them eat some of it out of my hand. The Mille Fleur's seem to be the calmest. When I pick those up, they just sit in my hand a look at me. Sweetness!