Chick doesnt like being held

[Star and eclipsa]

My chick, eclipsa, always struggles when i hold her. She doesnt poop on me when i hold her, like estrella does, but she always tries to get her wings out of my hands and flap around until i let her down. Does anyone know why she does this?

 

[PirateGirl]

Not all chickens like being held. It's instinct to try and get away as if you are a predator. Most of my chickens do this.

 

[Jesus solano]

Not all chickens like being held. It's instinct to try and get away as if you are a predator. Most of my chickens do this.

Yeah, completely normal. What breed is the chick? One of my leghorns used to be extremely skittish until she got eggbound and I had to soak her, etc. Since then she lets me hand feed her and isn't all skittish like before. Maybe it will work for you? Try to interact with the chick more. Hand feed them too, hopefully that works.

 

[azygous]

Some chicks will agree to be friends as long as you agree not to try to handle them. If you allow the chick to come to you to get a treat off your hand, they will think you're very okay. If you lay your hand flat the chick may, over time, come to trust you and step onto your hand, allowing minimal contact.

You need to be able to accept that some chicks aren't big fans of being cuddled.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Some chicks will agree to be friends as long as you agree not to try to handle them. If you allow the chick to come to you to get a treat off your hand, they will think you're very okay. If you lay your hand flat the chick may, over time, come to trust you and step onto your hand, allowing minimal contact.

You need to be able to accept that some chicks aren't big fans of being cuddled.

Well said Carol.

@Star and eclipsa We're glad you are here!

 

[PirateGirl]

Some chicks will agree to be friends as long as you agree not to try to handle them. If you allow the chick to come to you to get a treat off your hand, they will think you're very okay. If you lay your hand flat the chick may, over time, come to trust you and step onto your hand, allowing minimal contact.

You need to be able to accept that some chicks aren't big fans of being cuddled.

Agreed, let them approach you. I have some hens that if I make a move towards them they run and flap and get upset, but if I ignore them and just do my cleaning and feeding duties, they come right up to me. I don't think they are scared of me so much as they just don't want to be messed with

 

[junebuggena]

Some chicks will agree to be friends as long as you agree not to try to handle them. If you allow the chick to come to you to get a treat off your hand, they will think you're very okay. If you lay your hand flat the chick may, over time, come to trust you and step onto your hand, allowing minimal contact.

You need to be able to accept that some chicks aren't big fans of being cuddled.

Exactly! They are chickens after all, not puppies.

 

[Sassysouth]

My big girl doesn’t like to be held, but stays right beside me. We hunt bugs together. I catch them for her, show her where they are or chase them out of the grass with my feet.

 

[chickens really]

Duplicate post......

 

[getaclue]

It's normal, and they may go through phases too, going from friendly, to skittish, back to friendly.