Crazzy Babzzies

[BFen]

Help! My chicks act like I'm a MONSTER when I try to spend time with them. The more time the worse it gets! What do I do??

 

[rosemarythyme]

What are you doing when you "spend time with them?" How exactly are they reacting?

 

[BFen]

They are still young, and I just sit near their cage. I try to talk to them soothingly. I try to hold them, but I don't want to stress them out. When I remove the top wiring over their brooders, they start to zoom around and freak out. Naturally I have to do this daily to change water, food, bedding. I do move them to a temporary box while I remove the bedding, so it's not like I'm freaking them out by cleaning the cage while they are in there. In one brooder the chicks are 3-4 weeks old, they hate me. In the other brooder, the chicks are 2 weeks old, and they didn't hate me as much, until yesterday, when suddenly they really hated me. They are so peaceful and happy when I am not around (I peek on them constantly from a far).

 

[aart]

They don't 'hate' you.
They are just reacting like any prey animal would.
Handle them gently but frequently and they will lose some of their fear.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I agree with aart, they don't hate you. They're just fearful little things.

That is one shortcoming of having your brooder access be on top (which is the case in like 90% of set ups I've seen). Chickens are prey animals and are wired to be fearful of something suddenly coming down and grabbing them.

If you have a secure space to try this (like a bathroom with door shut, or a penned off area outdoors) you can take them out of the brooder and let them explore you as part of the environment. Sit down, read a book or have some coffee, and let them come up to you on their terms.