I've had my chicks for about 2 weeks now, and with the exception of one who did not eat or drink or walk on her own and died, the 7 that are now 16 days old are doing wonderfully.
Despite a lot of handling and talking to them, they still do not want to be held. Only one willingly flys up and climbs on me and sleeps in my hands. The rest act like the world is going to end everytime I grab them- whether I scoop or I snatch. I keep holding them anyway until they are calm and then put them back in the brooder.
I redid the brooder yesterday - switched from a deep tote-type brooder to a big 3X3 foot mesh cube sitting in a baby pool. (They love it and have been active and silly ever since getting more flight room). One side is removable, so I take it off and sit there and the chicks come over and check me out. But, except for one, they do not want to be touched. they do, however, seem a lot less afraid of me now that I'm not just a shadowy figure looming over them.
So my question is, even though I do not have cuddly chicks, can I still end up with hens that approach me and like to be pet and held? Is it too late? Even the one BA who was friendly has decided that she is terrified too. I really want a flock of chickens that allow me and others to hold and pet and otherwise bother them.
Despite a lot of handling and talking to them, they still do not want to be held. Only one willingly flys up and climbs on me and sleeps in my hands. The rest act like the world is going to end everytime I grab them- whether I scoop or I snatch. I keep holding them anyway until they are calm and then put them back in the brooder.
I redid the brooder yesterday - switched from a deep tote-type brooder to a big 3X3 foot mesh cube sitting in a baby pool. (They love it and have been active and silly ever since getting more flight room). One side is removable, so I take it off and sit there and the chicks come over and check me out. But, except for one, they do not want to be touched. they do, however, seem a lot less afraid of me now that I'm not just a shadowy figure looming over them.
So my question is, even though I do not have cuddly chicks, can I still end up with hens that approach me and like to be pet and held? Is it too late? Even the one BA who was friendly has decided that she is terrified too. I really want a flock of chickens that allow me and others to hold and pet and otherwise bother them.
