Bearded Silkie Chicks not so friendly

[NorthernChick1]

Hi everyone, trying yo reach out and as a few questions to Silkie chicken owners! I just bought 4 bearded silkies over the weekend. From what I was told and from what I read online, they are supposed to be one of the most docile and human friendly of chicken breeds. Ever since I"ve gotten mine the second I get close and/or put my hand in the brooder they freak out and all run and hide in a corner, as I try to pick them up they struggle non stop, try to fly away, and basically do anything they can in order to free themselves. Is this normal behavior in which they will grow out of and become more human friendly? Is there anything I can do? Thanks!

 

[NorthernChick1]

Also just wanted to point out that I am new to everything! Just started raising chickens and muscovies two months ago and they are great and soo friendly. Just moved them to she coop yesterday together. I now have 2 week old silkies alone in a brooder and they are terribly unsocialized and scared of anyone who goes to close

 

[LilJoe]

All chicks do than until you tame them down. You just have to be calm and patient.

 

[NorthernChick1]

All chicks do than until you tame them down. You just have to be calm and patient.

Ok thanks, they freak out way more than my previous chicks and ducklings that I had at 2 days old. Is there something I should do daily to help tame them?

 

[LilJoe]

Ok thanks, they freak out way more than my previous chicks and ducklings that I had at 2 days old. Is there something I should do daily to help tame them?

For a while until they warm up to you, sit by the brooder and hold your hand in there. Dont try to touch them or pick them up. If they walk around your hand that's good (or even walk *near* it )!
Try reading through this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...to-make-them-as-friendly-as-possible.1088482/

 

[NorthernChick1]

For a while until they warm up to you, sit by the brooder and hold your hand in there. Dont try to touch them or pick them up. If they walk around your hand that's good (or even walk *near* it )!
Try reading through this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...to-make-them-as-friendly-as-possible.1088482/

Thank you!

 

[tgodsey]

My Silkies are about 12 weeks old now and I along with my daughter have handled them since they were 3 days old. We moved them to the barn and go out twice a day to feed and and water. We only have 1 out of 11 that doesn’t run away. You would think we were strangers. We are new to Silkies and I’m not sure what I was expecting when I read docile, but ours still behave like they fear being caught or handled when we pick them up. It makes our 8 yr old so sad

 

[Gilded Feather]

Like with any animal, it takes time and patience in order to gain their trust. Some individuals may warm up faster than others depending on personality.

I have 18 two week old silkie chicks at the moment and on Monday they would all trample one another to get to the farthest corner in the brooder when I stepped into the coop. Since then I’ve been taking 15 to 30 minutes out of my day (sometimes even more) just to sit by them in the coop. As of today, they still flee to the corner when I first show up but after I settle in with them it doesn’t take nearly as long before they resume their daily routine and playing and will actually stop to have a look at me. I can move my hands, scratch my face or shift my weight from foot to foot without invoking a mad scramble for the corner of the brooder. Two of the bunch won’t flee with the others at all unless I go to step outside. Eventually I will start to place my hand down into the brooder with them to let them get used to me that way, but until they don’t flee in terror when I walk in I’ll refrain from trying that just yet.

Like I said, it takes plenty of patience, which is completely understandable. It would take you a long time to warm up to something 100x bigger than yourself too.

 

[WhoDatChick]

I got my Silkie along with my 7 standards.. Spring 2018... she is my least friendly chicken... I can pet and hug everyone but her... she stays far away while the others are under foot...