Chicks, do they hate me?

[Barbeque]

They always run to the corner. And only the Barred Rock Chicks seem to like me when I take them away from the group separately. The rest seem to shake and be scared out of their MINDS! What do I do? I mean, they still fall asleep in my hand, or on my chest, but the won't walk on my hand or walk period.

Help me?

 

[bigstack]

The trick is lots of affection!!! Holding gently stroking...etc! Move slowly, Hand as low as possible! Most of their predators come from above! They have excelent sight foreward or sideways. its just above, all they see is a shadow.... = predator I move slowly keeping a monotone gentle voice. Then i will pick them up and hold them on my hand. I don't grip them. I think they respond better to being able to stand in your hand! I just use the other hand to prevent them from jumping. I will hold them atleast 5 minutes each. I try to do this atleast 2-3 times a day. It took a while when I had 51 in the brooder! LOL Most will come around once they figure out you are not a threat. There will be 1 or 2 that just don't want to be bothered. I will also just hold them in my palm just up about 3-4 inches in the brooder to show the others they are free to come and go as they please. I will pick up the best ones first and let them stand in my hand. The others will come over to investigate. Then if the 1st one gets down i just get another then another and so on. Just to show them they have nothing to fear. I will just pick them up and let them go when they are ready. Of course this is after a week or so of tons of holding and gently petting! Move slowly!!! Talk gently! Pitch changes are how they communicate. Highpitches or quick up changes in pitch mean danger or excitement!!! Low mono tone and slow gentle movements are the key to it all and LOTS LOTS LOTS of repeat affection!

Good luck and God Bless!

 

[Barbeque]

Edit xs 2:
Thank you! I will try that now! I just want them to love me. ;p

 

[chickee]

Good advice from bigstack!

I do the same with my chicks but I also cup their breast with both my hands while they are standing and talk to them saying ahhhh, in a soft, sympathetic voice which really calms them. Even my older birds calm right down when I say ahhhh to them. The next thing to do is feed them a treat of quick oats once a day sprinkled in their feeder and they will be all over you!

Now I have to be careful when I go into the pen with my 5 wk old BLRW chicks that I don't step on them because they run to me and stand all around my feet! GOOD LUCK!

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Good advice from both! As a new chicken mama, I have spent considerable time holding and stroking my 8 chicks. The barred rocks are fine with it and the wyandottes settle down after voicing their concerns when I take them out. I usually hold them for about five minutes each while talking in a low, slow voice. Flo, my smallest bird (a BR) now runs to me when I put my hand in the box or kennel. She likes the attention and her reaction to me draws the others. I stroke them when they are in the box, always announcing myself first so they dont get scared. They are now 24 days old and all have very different personalities which makes watching them a joy.

:yiipchick

 

[bel]

Hold a handful of chopped up scrambled eggs in the brooder a few times. I do that and now they swarm my hands even empty. One flaps over and perches on my thumb. Empty handed first they check for scrambled eggs then they notivce there are none and just sit there to check ou my hands, peck my rings, they let me pet and touch them because they are not afraid anymore.

 

[elmo]

Your user name on Backyardchickens may be making them nervous! (hee)

 

[Whimsy]

I am also a new chick mom and I discovered the most amazing way to calm the chicks! This last weekend we had unending rain so I spent a lot of time sitting in the coop with them. I have 2 SLW that are more shy then the rest of the birds. It was Sunday afternoon and sometimes the songs from Sunday Services stick in my mind. I starting singing "Amazing Grace" very quietly. All the girls started listening but the 2 SLW's started to come forward and stand in front of me with their heads cocked at me. I just let them stand there to show them I wasn't going to hurt them. Today they both came up to sit by me while in the run. Take things slowly they will come around.

 

[Tallgirl17]

I was worried too! I kept reading stories of other peoples birds wanting affection and being held ect. I thought I got stuck with 8 little jerks!

But I kept moving slow and the big winner was the treats! Now when I come to the brooder, the chicks come running to greet me to see what I might have for them. I can pet them very slowly and they will jump in my hands too! Don't worry, they'll come around!

 

[Dust Bunny]

they dont call um "chicken" for nothing, but really they will warm up to you