Today was the first day that I took all their toys out of the large cardboard brooder. I put a light colored blanket in on one end and sat myself down with them, with a bowl of there favorite treat - egg yolk with a little egg white. I plastered both hands and they came a-runnin'. My hatched chicks, all 23 of them, are just over a week old and starting to feather out in their wing areas. My two turkey chicks, Rue - the size of my chicks and Amber, going on three weeks - she is a giant among the flock and able to fly.
I could not see my hands, there were so many chicks pecking for the treat!! After treat time, they went to the other side of the brooder, there usual place to nap. I stayed, as both Amber and Rue came into my hands to sleep. I sat very quietly and let them nap. Every so often, a couple would wake and check to see if I was still there...
The second time I did this, I brought fresh bowls of their other favorite foods - chick feed slurry and fresh, homemade yogurt. This time they came right to me to check out my hands. They didn't run away and I made no attempt to pick them up. I just allowed them to get used to my presence among them. The ate and napped much closer to me.
But then, something happened I did not expect. Amber, my large turkey chick, who has been very leery of me picking her up, half flew/jumped up on my arm! First time ever, after spending time wandering around me while I took no notice of her and paid attention to my chicks. She finally decided I was 'safe' and came to me - - on her own! She is becoming more and more curious about her flying ability and wants out of the brooder; she thought she might just get away with using me as a convenient ramp but I knew what she was up to. Three times I put her down and three times she came back, willingly. Rue, my little darling turkey chick, always comes to me to be picked up and held.
I did take Amber out into the sunlit den and put her down on a large chair to let her stretch her legs and have a little peace and quiet. My two cats were very interested in her but they know better than to try anything. I would never let Amber out on her own. If the cats realize she is off limits and their curiosity is satisfied, they will behave. Of Course, behave - doesn't mean they won't hunt and I don't trust them an inch with any of my birds. Mostly, the cats are outside if I have Amber out and it cures her attempts at flying out of the brooder. We will be putting some wire over the brooder tonight.
So, you can bond with your chicks sooner than you think, if you do it on their level and allow them to accept you as a member of their flock.
Happy Bonding!!! I will be posting more pictures tomorrow
Stephanie (Stewarts)
I could not see my hands, there were so many chicks pecking for the treat!! After treat time, they went to the other side of the brooder, there usual place to nap. I stayed, as both Amber and Rue came into my hands to sleep. I sat very quietly and let them nap. Every so often, a couple would wake and check to see if I was still there...
The second time I did this, I brought fresh bowls of their other favorite foods - chick feed slurry and fresh, homemade yogurt. This time they came right to me to check out my hands. They didn't run away and I made no attempt to pick them up. I just allowed them to get used to my presence among them. The ate and napped much closer to me.
But then, something happened I did not expect. Amber, my large turkey chick, who has been very leery of me picking her up, half flew/jumped up on my arm! First time ever, after spending time wandering around me while I took no notice of her and paid attention to my chicks. She finally decided I was 'safe' and came to me - - on her own! She is becoming more and more curious about her flying ability and wants out of the brooder; she thought she might just get away with using me as a convenient ramp but I knew what she was up to. Three times I put her down and three times she came back, willingly. Rue, my little darling turkey chick, always comes to me to be picked up and held.
I did take Amber out into the sunlit den and put her down on a large chair to let her stretch her legs and have a little peace and quiet. My two cats were very interested in her but they know better than to try anything. I would never let Amber out on her own. If the cats realize she is off limits and their curiosity is satisfied, they will behave. Of Course, behave - doesn't mean they won't hunt and I don't trust them an inch with any of my birds. Mostly, the cats are outside if I have Amber out and it cures her attempts at flying out of the brooder. We will be putting some wire over the brooder tonight.
So, you can bond with your chicks sooner than you think, if you do it on their level and allow them to accept you as a member of their flock.
Happy Bonding!!! I will be posting more pictures tomorrow
Stephanie (Stewarts)
