Chicks, do they hate me?

[LauraG]

Wow when I saw this thread, this is exactley what I am going through!!

I love them so much but they basically, hate me..... I have only had them for a week and I pick each of them up at least twice a day.

The Golden Comet & the Auracana make a *commotion* when I go to pick them up, then everyone starts freaking out!! Ugh!

Here's the troublemakers- Gwen the GC, & Ariel the very wiley Auracana....

 

[bigstack]

I did leave out the anouncing your perscence from a distance. madsenaccord

Thanx for the reminder! You don't want to just POP up in the room beside the brooder! I keep them in a room with the door shut to keep out my cats. But as soon as I begin to slowly open the door I start talking to them. They will be standing in the brooder looking to see where I am. Then I can aproach slowly, talking and moving my arms slowly! The first week they ran screaming! But now they stand there while I slowly move my hand down to the chips then aproach them from ground level. I can reach all the way over and gently stroke their breast. Then I will pick them up and proceed to love them. Just slow, gentle, and calm monotone talking.

P.s. Mine listen to Jimmy swaggert 24-7! LOL I just put it on the radio and leave it. I even have a radio in the coop! The sound keeps them calm and helps keep away predators! I believe it helps them to not be affraid of peoples voices or changing sonds as much.

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[bakerjw]

Good advice to announce you presence. I always call to my girls before I come in and they are very responsive to my voice. They still fear the hand until they determine that it has treats.

 

[jgillespie]

I am also a new chick mom. My husband and I have 11 2 week old Buff Brahmas and 1 Chick undetermined (pretty sure its an auracana). We got them at 2 days old from a hatchery. I have tried holding them everyday and slowly and softly rubbing their belly. They calm down but they dont seem at all interested in me. When I go out to feed/water them they run away. Any Ideas on how to get them to like me?

 

[bigstack]

Treats!!! I will call mine differently when I have treats! They come to know the difference in my tone and words. Then when they hear me call "Hear chick chick chik! Here chick chick chick!" in a higher tone. They come screaming and running/flapping!!! If I don't call like that they will just wonder up to me when I head their way. OR NOT! LOL If I call...... Get ready!!!! LOL hahaha I have told every one to use the same method when giving my birds treats. That way they know if they hear " here chick chick chick" it means come NOW!!! If they don't hear it, they are free to do as they want. Usually they will come and investigate any way. Even in the coop I anounce my comming by talking as soon as I get in sight. It really helps! But TREATS TREATS TREATS!!! Even if its just bread or spaghetti noodles. They LOVE spagetti noodles!!! Crackers and hard treats are not appreciated as much. LOL atleast not by my birds. They will eat them but they will usually leave alot on the ground and get them the next day. BUT soft treats..... GONE!!!

Good luck and God Bless!

P.s.

To all the new fluffy butt moms/dads!

 

[reallynewatthis]

I've been wondering this as well. We have five chicks of varying breeds (all about 2 weeks old) , all of whom still run whenever I reach into the cage. I've been handling them daily, but not as much as folks here are recommending.

They're growing so fast, I don't want them to grow up and still be scared of their people!!

Katy

 

[Barbeque]

SCRAMBLED EGGS!
My savior! (not literally )
They all come up to my hand and even step on it after just ONE afternoon of giving them eggs.
They love it!
They do still fear me, but they'll come up and peck at my hand and eat the eggs, even my most picky and scared chick!
When handling them, though, I find myself always reaching towards Barbecue! He just crawls up to my neck and snuggles, it's too cute to pass up! ;p

 

[dumb_cluck]

If the chicks are anything like ducks, they need to develop a trust in you. My mallards were a bit skiddish at first. I always announced my arrival by saying: "mornin campers!". They responded by doing their duck chirps.

Then I taught them what swimming was. I would approach them and say: "who wants to go swimmin?" It didn't take long for them to catch on and now they line up for the wagon ride to the pool.

I plan the same type of naming the event with my chicks when they arrive. If you keep everything on a positive note and name the event, they learn very quickly.

And, yes.......NO sudden moves. Eveything nice and calm and collected.

 

[fastpat]

Quote:
It's your height above them that is frightening to them. All of mine run around, but as soon as I am sitting down the friendly ones run right over and climb on me. Others just appear to not really like humans, so they wonder around, just out of arms length. I have three pullets and one cockerel that are essentially friendly at the pet level, the rest aren't.

 

[babypeeps]

Just keep messing with them and giving them attention and they will come to love ya

From the 10 we had last year, my mom said "you have the friendliest chickens I've ever seen".
I totally believe it was from the attention and time and treats they knew we would give them.

Give it some time and give them some attention, love and food and you'll have some best friends