hand feeding

[peep this]

i just got my new baby chicks there just regular easter eggers i bought them from a women who mail orderd them there are 4 only one question how should i hand feed them? if so when? id like to i really want them to be friendly any suggestions?

 

[ChickenToes]

You can put a little feed in your hand and hold it out to them in the brooder. I do this starting the day I get them.

 

[peep this]

oh thank you very much

 

[bantybev]

You really want to make friends of them, give them a little mash up boiled egg yolk in the palm of your hand in a week or so. From then on, after you put your hand in the brooder, you are their best friend forever

 

[luvzmychickens]

if you want them to be realy friendly, hold them as much as you can

(my chickens are now full grown and loved to be held)

 

[peep this]

oh thats what im hoping for

 

[Ozark Chicken]

I have a 18 month old sexlink that runs up and stands on my feet every time I go in the chicken yard. She wants me to pick her up, in the winter she likes me to put her inside my coat while doing chicken chores. She also likes to stand on my shoulder like a pirates parrot. It's too funny to see. I never really spent any special time with her as a young one ( I got her when she was 4 months) She just seems to be a very friendly bird.

 

[exbiologist]

So how would you start the hand feeding? I tried a little bit of chopped up hardboiled egg in my hand, and they all huddled in the corner to avoid me. Then I put it on a plate and it took a few minutes, but eventually there was total chaos in there with birds running back and forth with their precious egg bits. Should I keep putting in on a plate for a bit, or should I keep trying by hand, then put it on a plate if they won't take it? Any other advice would be helpful.

 

[carolinasculpture]

Hi! I am new to chickens, but got a few chicks last week. They were quite skittish at first and huddled in the back corner as you have described. Then I got out the meal worms. We raise them for our gecko, but they are cheap and easy to come by at any pet or bait store. I just hold a meal worm in my hand and they come running! They will even come to my 6 year old daughter! Now each time we open the door they run to us instead of away. Hope this helps!

 

[exbiologist]

So quick update on the taming of my birds.... After yesterday when I just layed the egg plate in the brooder, I decided to leave my hand next to it this morning to see how the chicks reacted. It took them all of about ten seconds to go ape and completely disregard my hand while running around chasing each other for the egg bits. I'll try leaving it in my hand tomorrow.