Do your Chicks Freak Out?

[Their Other Mother]

Do your chicks freak out when you feed and water them? Everytime I reach into the brooder to feed and water they just freak! They are about 2 & 3 weeks old. No matter how slow or quiet I am they just FREAK!!! Jumping, squawking, running, smashing into each other.

 

[debilorrah]

It's THE BIG SCARY HAND. And yes all of us who have had chicks experience the same thing. the funny thing is when you pick them up they calm down. I think it is their instinct about predators because we always come from above when reaching into the brooder....

 

[birdsofparadise]

I raised my brooder up on concrete blocks so that when I kneel down to work in it Iʻm more at their level. They still act squirrelly, but it is a little calmer. Now, if I can only get my dingo to shut up. She acts nuts every time the chicks get excited.

 

[skeeter]

danger comes from above so yes they all freak out

 

[ssteiner]

I've found that this tendency seems to abate the more you handle them. My girls did the same thing, all but bouncing off the walls. I think it's because they think they're about to get eaten. Once they come to realize you're basically their mom, the calm down. Mine went from completely nuts just when I walked in the room too fast to calmly climbing onto my hand and letting me carry them outside to their run for an afternoon of bug-eating.

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

i always just thought part of it was because theyre hungry and im the food and water lady...sort of mama

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Remember Mr. Bill and Mr. Hand OH NO !!!

Seriously, yes all my babies just lose thier collective little minds when you change any thing in thier evironment. I am guessing it is just the nature of the beastie.

 

[walkswithdog]

Mine did that for a bit until I made a habit of dropping things from above them. Corn or cheese bits, bits of meat, veggies. After about a week of the hand above the brooder dropping food while in motion mine were running at me and screaming for me to drop something.

They're a little weird as they feather between 2-4 weeks anyway, by four to five weeks the little turds usually decide it's all good and start running onto your lap, arms etc.

At six weeks several of mine fly into my arms when I get out to the coop. If I sit I end up covered in happy chickens. Of course the lead cockerals and the lead pullet all try for my head. Sigh.
Some days I think fear would be a good thing.

When I work out there it's all about trying not to bugsquat them. Silly danged things.

BTW be wary of heating warm food in the microwave for the wee suckers... My house brood starts SCREAMING for whatever is coming out of the microwave when it beeps. Even when it's my dinner.

 

[UrbanMama]

Quote: