handling chicks to become pets

[907chicken]

Hello all. I have 2 goals for my flock. 1. to be pets and 2. lay eggs. Right now the chicks seem to be pretty skittish around me. They are fine till I put my hands in their box and then they kind of scatter to the corners. Once I gently pick one up they seem to relax in my hand though. But once they see that box coming up they always make a jump for it. Is it just a matter of repeating this a few times daily or what? Thanks in advance for the advice

 

[Manda0227]

I've been handling them, and just sitting near their brooder since I've gotten my chicks. Even if for a minute, I'll hold the chick and put it back if she wants. If she wants to stay, I'll hold her a little longer. I've heard treats work well too, although, with treats make sure you have grit! I must be doing something right, today when I came home from being out for a few hours, I opened my brooder and 2 of my girls flew/jumped out into my hands!

 

[sfchixn]

I don't believe you even need to handle them all that often. If they're skittish at first (as chicks) they'll come around after seeing that you're the one coming in daily to refresh their food and water.

My chicks at 6- and 8-weeks now are outside and I let them out to free range for a few hours in the afternoon. When they see me exiting the house they all start rushing towards me -- its like a chicken stampede! These chicks have no fear. They will walk around me (underfoot) and jump on my knee if I squat down. They're definitely pets now.

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

With mine I spend a lil time each day sitting and talking to them but every moring I greet them and everytime I go near the box I greet them now my PBR come running from anywhere in the run when I greet them and my BO's are comming to know my voice they tend to get used to you after you start feeding them treats in the box.....Hey Look everybody the Big strange hand has food for us, Yay!!!
Then they will settle down, Now mind you they have never calmed down all the way they are however still chickens but I do have that allowes me to pick him/her up when I am feed treats to them she/he likes to get on my knee to eat his/her's

 

[907chicken]

thanks for the tips! On my third visit today, I have one that my daughter already named blackie that got right in my hand and allowed me to pet him till he fell asleep in it! Probably a question for elsewhere on the board, but what should I give them for a treat? these are 3 week old chicks. All they have been getting is the medicated chick starter.

 

[Jen71]

Yeah - the treat question gets asked and answered a lot. I am certain there is a sticky post somewhere (check Raising Chicks forum).

I've given my 4 week old chicks a very little treat each day - cooked spaghetti noodles, yogurt, oatmeal, hard boiled egg mashed up, crushed cereal, etc.

We want our chicks to be pets too. But I agree with previous posters, I'm not too stressed about it. I try to hold them all each day. One still whimpers and whines like she's terrified of me.

 

[pulletkeeper]

Quote:
When you give them spaghetti is it whole wheat, white, spinach? Just curious.

 

[Jen71]

My spaghetti was white. It was just what I had cooked that night for dinner. I chopped a little bit up and gave it to the chicks.
It's the funniest thing to watch!
They don't want to grab them out of the dish or my hand, but once someone does, she runs with it - making it look like a wiggling worm in her mouth.
The other chicks freak out thinking she has a worm and they all chase her around trying to get it from her.
Then, it starts all over again when she takes another "worm" from me.
HYSTERICAL!