Chicks for the first Time

[Elena2424]

I'm gonna have to try that

 

[eyotig25]

So happy at least one of them is using it when I put the small piece of drift wood in there I thought they would freak out because everything seems to set them off but after five hours of stepping over it they have sort of embraced it....one has perched upon it and the others, well they r at least touching it ;0

 

[eyotig25]

Does anyone know how to make them more people friendly? I have been reading all these posts about how some chickens will hop into their owners laps and they let them pick them up but my chickens still freak out....our first batch r about three months old and even though I feed them they will only cone when I have food...we got the chickens not only for the eggs but for the pet benefit to and we r kinda feeling deprived ;*(

 

[boyswillbeboys]

Lol, well, mine are 3 weeks and still scatter when I come in the coop, like kids caught doing something wrong, when I walk to the feeder in the morning, they scatter, same with the waterers, but if I or the kids spend any time in the coop, they are all over us. Some are more friendly than the others we have one cockerel who likes to fly up and land on us. I have one meatie who isn't walking to well, I expect every morning to find she hasn't made it, but she's still moving around, so I'm doing some physical therapy with her, and today while I was helping her stand by the tall waterer, I had about 5 chicks decide my back looked like a great platform, started by the cockerel, of course. Besides the meat birds I am sure of this little guy for sure.

I have identified one probably cockerel and 2 more possibles, but I hope not, because that puts us as high as 3 of 4 sexed wrong in that breed, as they were supposed to be pullets (though I have 5 black and white chicks, which is baffling me, because I should only have 4 CRs).

How do you count chicks? I should have 45, and can't count that high fast enough that no one moves where I don't get mixed up, as to who I've counted.

ETA we started hand feeding Mosquitos at about 2 days old, and the kids love to hand feed whichever chicks will get close enough. I think the kids really help to tame them.

 

[eyotig25]

my kids seem to make them scatter more lol my four year old thinks they are there just so he can round them up, just like cattle ;0....I try to spend time with them but my mil thinks it is odd and she makes rude comments and looks at me strange....my light brahma used to come straight to me and let me pick her up but she won't anymore...I am just sad

 

[boyswillbeboys]

Ahh, mine aren't allowed to chase them, if they aren't being calm, I make them leave, I tell them that the chicks are scared when they chase them, even the 2 year old understands that, so it's always pretty calm on my kids side.

 

[winchuck]

I sit and crumble bread chattering all the while in my "sweetest and quiet" voice or tear up some other goodie tossing it in their direction. They end up at my feet. They almost look eager to see me as I approach. No one is sitting in my lap or even eating out of my hand, but they are not scared of me any longer. Today I am hanging a corn holder for chicks. I have put a whole ear of corn into it. It will allow everyone to dance around the holder to get a kernel or two. I can stand up now and walk around without them all shuttering at the monster in the cage with them. I need to hang their feeder and waterer as both get litter in them. I don't relish lying on my back drilling the hook into the wood.....way too much poop going on in there!! LOL I should have done it on day one.

 

[boyswillbeboys]

The run is done, my three week olds are nearly fully feathered, and this morning when I went in to feed them, off a bunch went, they dd t care for their commercial food, the want grass and bugs!

I have a broiler with leg troubles where I taped them together and she seems to be doing much better now, I'll take the tape off tomorrow to clean her up, and see how she is really doing.

 

[winchuck]

I wish I could let mine wonder in the wide open space, but so worried that Boo kitty will eat one for lunch until they are a bit bigger and maybe will worry him instead of me. Boo has turned out to be a master at killing and loves to hunt to the point that he won't come in at night ...maybe winter rains will change that.

 

[Timskins]

Can you guys tell me what the difference is between a white bulb and a red bulb for use in the brooder? Also do you put the feeder and water can under the light or will they venture out from the heat source for water and food?

Thanks,
Tim