If you can, make a hot pocket (what I call my folded blanket I use to keep them warm and close to me). It’s basically a small pillow case lined with fleece so I can have the Littles on my lap and keep them warm/act like a mama hen (Attaching photo of the one I made with my chicks from 7 years ago).
I also sit by their brooder and talk to them a lot and make mama hen noises at them (the constant bock-bock-bock sound - yes, I’m a crazy chicken lady, what did you expect?!
).
Most of the time they don’t want me to hold them, but I’ll take them into the hall bathroom (small enclosed space) and let them run around, but most of the time they pile in my lap or climb up the front of me to sit on my shoulder/peck me. I basically let them get comfortable with me being their Mama Chicken. Bottom line: spend lots of time with them if you can and even if they run away, pick them up one at a time and hold them close (tucked under your chin if you can) and talk gently to them.
I also sit by their brooder and talk to them a lot and make mama hen noises at them (the constant bock-bock-bock sound - yes, I’m a crazy chicken lady, what did you expect?!
).Most of the time they don’t want me to hold them, but I’ll take them into the hall bathroom (small enclosed space) and let them run around, but most of the time they pile in my lap or climb up the front of me to sit on my shoulder/peck me. I basically let them get comfortable with me being their Mama Chicken. Bottom line: spend lots of time with them if you can and even if they run away, pick them up one at a time and hold them close (tucked under your chin if you can) and talk gently to them.
