Brand new to raising chickens

[Amanda0609]

I just brought home 6 Rhode Island Reds on Saturday, they are supposed to be about 2 weeks old. They seem like they hate me! Every time I give them fresh water or food they run from me. If I try to pick them up they peck at me. Is it possible they will warm up to me soon? I always move very slowly around them and talk softly. I would imagine being in the store for 2 weeks made them nervous because of kids. Also I have read that treats are fine but I am not sure when I can start giving them treats. I am feeding them just medicated chick starter for now. I am really excited about having these girls, still working on the outdoor coop which will be 8x8x8.

 

[gritsar]

Hi and welcome to BYC. Chickens are afraid of anything or anyone new. They'll warm up to you with daily attention. Food is the way to a chicken's heart via the stomach.
At two weeks old I would experiment with giving them some plain, low or no-fat yogurt or some chopped hard boiled egg. Like everything else they'll be afraid of the new food at first. Just leave it in with them and use patience and they'll soon get brave enough to try it. It helps to use the same bowl to feed their treats in every time. They'll come to recognize that bowl as holding yummy things.
Good luck!

 

[Amanda0609]

Thanks, they are doing a little better. They were terrified of the yogurt dish, they made a huge mess and didn't eat much. Slowly but surely they are warming up to me.

 

[adeechickluv]

Hi, I am in the same situation as you. Bought 4 chicks, today, actually!

SOO excited but they say you have to let them be for the first day. They are adorable, but run from my hand right away. I am hoping that this will change, and as you say, "warm up" to me.
Good luck with your chicks!

 

[anniem]

We've had our for almost 2 weeks now, they we probably under a week when we got them. I have found that they like sitting on us rather than being picked up and held and that they like to be with a buddy, often. I was really worried about having them out unless I had a hand over them, I was sure they were gonna go nutty if given the chance. Then i wanted to take some pictures, had my 2yo sit on the bed by the brooder bin and put one on his lap. She cuddled up on his cozy jammies and was so content. Then I took them out 1 by 1 and they just lined up on his leg. If we moved one she'd just jump back on to his leg.
We keep putting them on the bed but they want to sit on someone's leg or arm most of the time. One in particular runs like crazy when I reach in (she had pasty butt and has only acted like this since I had to hold her to clean it) but she then loves to sit on my fist above the others, and will fall asleep this way.
So I'm sure it's partly getting used to us and their new situation, but it's also about me figuring out what they like--they are quite individual already.