Chicks that bite!

[missalysha]

Hi there,

I have just recently picked up two 3 week old GLW chicks to put in my brooder with my other chicks the same age.
Now these two were hatched and raised so far with a broody and i doubt were handled at all by anyone so i expected them to react differently towards the brooder and me touching them.

Well i have had them for about a week now and they awful little things.. everytime i put my hand in the brooder to take the food out or water to refill they bite me! If i try to touch them they again try to bite me and FORGET about holding them... and just the other day went to pick up one of my other babies and she did the same thing! So they are being bad influences on my tame chicks! What can i do to show them i love them and am good?!
I heard give them treats everytime you touch them.. but i doubt that will change them?
And as for treats, what is appropriate for 3-4 week olds?

And can anyone tell me if GLW are known for being a more aggressive breed?

thank you!

 

[missalysha]

Any ideas?

 

[Judy]

Can't speak for GLW, but my hatchery SLW are my meanest chickens. Noisy, too (and they are hens.) One of them was so mean we thought she was a roo and butchered her with some extra roos. That's OK, I wouldn't have wanted her around, anyway.

 

[Winsor Woods]

I have GLW's and SLW's. It's all about putting the time in with your chicks. They love me and come up to me when I go in their coop. I often bring in grapes, cherries, etc. for treats and hold my hand out. Initially I began cutting them up into smaller pieces so they'd get the taste of the treat right away. Now I just feed it to them whole.

Now if my wife tries to go near the coop....forget it. One of the GLW hens flew up to the chicken wire wall in front of my wife and was grabbing on with her feet and flapping and clucking. Definitely defensive behavior. But they love me and are always happy to see me. It's definitely going to be a struggle for the first couple days, but don't despair, you'll win them over if you stick with it.

Dan

 

[missalyshaann]

Thanks for your advice..
I think i will keep an eye on them and see how they continue to fit in. Im pretty sure i have one roo and one hen so might sell them as a breeding pair.. althought i dont know much about that.

 

[warmwater]

Just keep picking them up and holding them....talk to them softly until they calm down then put them down... (several times a day if you have to). They are only 3 weeks old and you are bigger and stonger. If their pecking hurts you, wear gloves and long sleeves. For the first 3 weeks of their life, they were probably not handled much--if at all. They are afraid...if you take the time with them now and show them you will not hurt them and you will always touch them, they will calm down.

 

[write2caroline]

I have 2 GLW and I did leave for a week and they sort of forgot who I was plus they were in the big girl coop and not handled much. I make it a point to talk to them and I have given them treats. They let me pet them a little but not hold them. When they were in the brooder they liked to be held - one more than the others.

I don't think they are mean - just little chicken brained. They forgot who I was. Treats retaught them to assoc me with good things.

Our newest batch are 3 slw one of which is suppose to be a roo - could that one be the one with the chipmunk third stripe down the back? All three are skittish and act like they "no likee" being held - but I handle them anyway and talk softly, cluck and whistle.

We also have a Barred Plymouth Rock - she is really sweet and likes to be held.

[/img]

Our big girl coop does not allow me to go in with them. But I can see them and talk to them through the sides. I can pet them through the doors when I add food and fresh water.

Caroline
Jax FL

 

[Frenchy chick]

Each time mine start doing that, i tap their beak with my finger back few times to show them that i am on the top at the pecking order.
They don't do it anymore.
I have a rooster that i hatched that, would totally taunt me and peck me and i would do that 10 times at his beak. He stopped too.

 

[RAWR]

we had a few chicks like that. they wernt GLW, (we have SLW) but all you really have to do it spend time with them, they bite you because they probley arnt used to u, and maybe even pose as a threat of sorts.i would just get to know them over a few weeks, and hopefully they'll calm down some