Chick whisperers: pick up and restraint challenge

[CalBickieMomma]

TRUE STORY!

 

[MissGreenJeans]

TRUE STORY!

Just wanted to check in and thank y’all for the wonderful advice! Weeks later, I’ve got a whole crew of friendly pullets who want to be on/around me. Two are particularly snuggly!!

 

[CalBickieMomma]

Just wanted to check in and thank y’all for the wonderful advice! Weeks later, I’ve got a whole crew of friendly pullets who want to be on/around me. Two are particularly snuggly!!

Such precious little biscuits! The one of mine that grrrrd at me for petting her gently on the back has graduated to PECKING me now. Honestly. As if I’m plucking her feathers out. We’ll see how she is when she starts laying (which will be soon!). Here are some pictures of her. Her name’s Phoebe, aka Phoebers, Phoebe Jeebies, and Phoebes (pronounced ‘feebs’). She‘s not spoiled at all … She’s
also the laziest chicken on the planet .

 

[PippinTheChicken]

My chicks were absolute sweethearts, one even used to dust bath on my lap.
The trick is, as soon as their out of the incubator; warm and dry, handle them! Lay on a bed and let them sunggle against you for warmth! I handled may chicks at least 5-10 times a day and they loved it!
There was one chick that was scared though and tamed her by holding her firmly against my heart, your heartbeat makes them calm and sleepy! She saw how the other chicks loved me and learned that I was safe.

There are the cuties! One on the left is Kiwi, the sweetest one, we did everything together. One on the back right is Pickles, he isn't much of a cuddler but he enjoys being held and petted. One on the front right is Blue, the scared one, doesn't mind being handled but she's still a bit shy.
Kiwi and Pickles grew up into big roosters, but they still love hugs!!! I'm still awaiting an egg from Blue, she's due VERY soon!

 

[luckycluk]

It depends on the temperament of the bird. And that changes when they hit POL.

This is easily accomplished by pulling them off the roost at night wearing a head lamp. Some birds take being restrained better than others and some need little to no restraint. Again, it depends on the bird.

Hand feed them their treats. This will win their trust and they will look to you as a walking treat dispenser.
HOWEVER, it is important that you do not go overboard with the treats. I like to keep treats to less than 5% by weight of their total provided diet. What they get foraging is their business.
Be careful with overhandling your pullets. If your cockerel, Roo, is really a male, when he hits sexual maturity (which is always before the pullets do) he may not take a fancy to you being overly involved with HIS girls. And when you have a resident male, that is the best way to look at the flock.
YOU have a rooster, HE has the hens.

Has I read your reply it brought to mind what my 14 yr old gen daughter was finding 3 days ago we were in the part of the run we have blocked off with our 11weeks olds , 7 pullets and one cockerel

It depends on the temperament of the bird. And that changes when they hit POL.

This is easily accomplished by pulling them off the roost at night wearing a head lamp. Some birds take being restrained better than others and some need little to no restraint. Again, it depends on the bird.

Hand feed them their treats. This will win their trust and they will look to you as a walking treat dispenser.
HOWEVER, it is important that you do not go overboard with the treats. I like to keep treats to less than 5% by weight of their total provided diet. What they get foraging is their business.
Be careful with overhandling your pullets. If your cockerel, Roo, is really a male, when he hits sexual maturity (which is always before the pullets do) he may not take a fancy to you being overly involved with HIS girls. And when you have a resident male, that is the best way to look at the flock.
YOU have a rooster, HE has the hens.

 

[luckycluk]

I’m sorry I hit post as I was typing. As I was saying my granddaughter n I was in the closed of part of the run where we put a small prefab tractor coop so we could have a look but don’t touch area for them from our two 2 yr old hens. When one of us would reach for one of the pullets the cockerel would run over and peck us. I told my granddaughter do not act scared to gentle push down on the top of his head and say no. He also did it to me when one of the pullets came to me and I reached down to pet her. It surprised me that he is acting so protective. He get higher in the run and watches like he is guarding them. He will let us pick him up without pecking us. Do they start being protective that young?