Best way to bond?

[Vikinglike]

What’s the best way to bond with chicks?
Mine are 4 days old, so I guess that I’m looking for ideas for now through the next few weeks?
Also, when can you introduce grit so they can try a treat?
Thanks!!!

 

[nowlifehappens]

My understanding is the more you spend time with them, the more accustomed they become to being around people. Once they are maybe a little older, try hand feeding them or holding them more. Unfortunately, I can’t let my little chicks out as much inside the house because I have two dogs and a cat that will think they are play toys. That can be another option once they are a little bit older and if you are in a place that allows for it.

The last time I raised chicks, I took them outside for short spells as soon as they started to have the ability to fly. They would run under my legs, but never go too far from me. I assume it was because they were weary of the new surroundings, but also because they saw me as a safe retreat, lol!

I’m sure someone with more experience will chime in. This is what worked for me.

 

[Stacyoung13]

I hold my babies a lot of the time and play with them. I think they spend just as much time with me as they do in the Brooder. I also talk to them all the time, call them by name or just say hey babies. Now all I have to do is say “ come on babies” and they all come running, even when they are running around the yard. I have staggered babies now that I’m spoiling.

 

[Missbc]

My brooder is in our unfinished basement/garage. I do laundry down there, park my car there, keep my home improvement supplies there, have an extra fridge and pantry storage down there...so basically I’m in the basement a lot when I’m home.

As soon as my 3 week olds see me, they fly around to the front of the brooder extension and chat at me. I of course open their door. Usually I’ll put the stool in front of the open door, especially if I need to do laundry. They’ll fly up to the stool and wait for me to come over.

I usually spend 15-20 mins with them every time I’m down there. I shoo them off the stool, sit down and suddenly I’m a perch. About half of them seek me out to perch on- the other half are more cautious but are coming around. I don’t pick them up unless I need to check a particular chick. If they want to hang out with me, they’ll come to me. I have a cardboard barrier inside their brooder so when I open the door they’ll fly up to that and perch. I put my hand in front of their legs and they’ll step on to my hand.

One of my australorp is especially cuddly. She comes up, wags her little tail feathers and settles in for a nap. Every.single.time

 

[Vikinglike]

What’s the best way to bond with chicks?
Mine are 4 days old, so I guess that I’m looking for ideas for now through the next few weeks?
Thanks!!!

My brooder is in our unfinished basement/garage. I do laundry down there, park my car there, keep my home improvement supplies there, have an extra fridge and pantry storage down there...so basically I’m in the basement a lot when I’m home.

As soon as my 3 week olds see me, they fly around to the front of the brooder extension and chat at me. I of course open their door. Usually I’ll put the stool in front of the open door, especially if I need to do laundry. They’ll fly up to the stool and wait for me to come over.

I usually spend 15-20 mins with them every time I’m down there. I shoo them off the stool, sit down and suddenly I’m a perch. About half of them seek me out to perch on- the other half are more cautious but are coming around. I don’t pick them up unless I need to check a particular chick. If they want to hang out with me, they’ll come to me. I have a cardboard barrier inside their brooder so when I open the door they’ll fly up to that and perch. I put my hand in front of their legs and they’ll step on to my hand.

One of my australorp is especially cuddly. She comes up, wags her little tail feathers and settles in for a nap. Every.single.time

thanks! I can’t wait!!!

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Mine are not afraid of me minus 'Loner' who was hatched and reared by his mom..... the rest would gather around me as if I'm a food dispenser, which I guess I am. To me, I was the first thing they saw so I guess they imprinted in their peanut brain that I'm their mother or something.

 

[The chicken wizard]

I bought my babies when they were a day old and they imprinted on me,or in other words, they thought I was their mother. They still follow me around and hide under my legs as they would with a mother hen. 4 days old is a little too old for imprinting, but if you spend hours at a time with them, make soft clicks and purrs at them, they may just barely imprint on you

 

[Chickassan]

You can give grit now if you want to.
Best way to bond is sitting down on their level and just being with them.
Best treat that will make you the bringer of damn good things are live mealworms.

 

[HarmonyHomestead]

I got mine from tractor supply (maybe 1w old??) and admit I don’t spend as much time in the garage with them as I should (where the brooder is). Does picking them up help? I assumed it would desensitize them eventually, but they act like they are being murdered every time.

 

[ATownMama]

Ha - mine do too!! I’m in the room with them several times a day and I’m the one who feeds and waters too. They won’t let me pick them up and run to the other side of the brooder whenever I come in. I’ve tried winning them over with treats but they still give me the judgy side-eye whenever I try to hand feed them. LOL I have to laugh, but I do wish they’d get more comfortable with me.