Friendlier Chicks?

[TheBantyCoop]

Hi all! I recently got 4 bantam chicks and the are pretty skittish. They just don't like to be held! I know that they're chickens not lap dogs, but I was wondering if there was a way to make holding them more enjoyable for me and them. I have tried offering them treats by hand and it hasn't really helped, but at least they will eat out of my hand comfortably. I am just hoping that they will be a little more friendly! Maybe it's just the way they are? Or maybe the breeds? I have a bantam welsummer, a bantam barred plymouth rock, a bantam white crested black polish, and a bantam easter egger .(she is the nicest) Thank you for your time!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join the flock! Them eating out of your hand is a start to them becoming tame. It really does take time to tame them up. Offer chick crumb from your hand as often as you can so they get used to you. Talking to them really helps too, I have full on conversations with mine.

Here is a lovely article on taming chicks ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-tame-chickens-from-the-start

Wishing you the very best of luck with your chicks and enjoy BYC

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. All of your breeds can be readily tamed and you are on the right track with the treats. The way to a chicken's heart is definitely through its stomach. There is a good article at http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyar...-run-away-whenever-they-see-me-Can-I-H57.aspx on how to tame chickens. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in taming your chicks.

 

[drumstick diva]

Chicks aren't as easy to make friends with like a puppy. They'll come around sooner or later

 

[TheBantyCoop]

Thanks for they advice! One of them is actually becoming really friendly, but she isn't mine.

We ordered eight chicks, and four of them (the standards not the banties) belong to my friend (I am babysitting until they return from vacation). The one who is so sweet is an Austrolorp named Annie, and she will sit on the edge of the brooder and wait to be held while I am taking pictures of the banties. She is so cute that I might just have to keep her, so thank goodness for my understanding friends! Can I keep her with the banties even though she is a standard?

I am now offering them mealworms from my hands and they will now approach my hand willingly if I put it down in anticipation of food. I have also given them melon in the past. I think that it's working, but they still runaway if I try to catch them, understandable. It works better if I slip my hand under them instead grabbing them from above, but they have to want to be held for this to work.

I understand that they aren't puppies, but Annie is calmer than my PWD. Oh Yogi, don't worry we still love ya!


(Him at around 7 months. He will be two this September! Sorry for the quality.)

Thank you all!

 

[TheBantyCoop]

BantamFan,
Hope you feel better, my best wishes. Thank you for the welcomes!

-Another passionate bantam lover

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks for they advice! One of them is actually becoming really friendly, but she isn't mine.

We ordered eight chicks, and four of them (the standards not the banties) belong to my friend (I am babysitting until they return from vacation). The one who is so sweet is an Austrolorp named Annie, and she will sit on the edge of the brooder and wait to be held while I am taking pictures of the banties. She is so cute that I might just have to keep her, so thank goodness for my understanding friends! Can I keep her with the banties even though she is a standard?

I'm not surprised that your sweetest bird is an Australorp. They are typically one of the calmest and most gentle breeds. My children and granddaughter (pictured in my avatar) made lap pets of ours. Given her gentle nature, if Annie is your only standard sized bird she will probably do fine (outside of the normal pecking order) with your bantams as long as your flock has plenty of space. Overcrowding can quickly lead to aggression, fighting, biting and feather plucking, and even cannibalism with any breeds. Good luck with Annie and the bantams. )

 

[nj2wv]

welcome to BYC !!

 

[TheBantyCoop]

Michael,

Glad to here that you have also had good experiences with Austrolorps! They may just be the culprit that made me fall in love with chickens. Our feed store also has animals and by far my favorite of their chickens is their Austrolorp. She is super patient, will let you pick her up, and in my previous chicken ignorance she would let me pet her while she was broody! (I don't pet broody hens anymore. Silly me!) Thank you for your advice on crowding! Don't worry, their coop will be huge as I plan to have 8+ chickens in he future if my banty adventure goes well. They will also have regular access to free range in my garden also. Any tips on chicken proofing a fenced in garden? I have a small one that I am a little worried about.
Thank you for the reply!