help: bonding with chicks

[emmakate]

when my three older chickens were little they would follow me around like i was their mom. now i have two new chicks that i’ve had for about a week and they don’t follow me. what do i do

 

[feathermaid]

Are your new chicks a week old, or are they older?
Do you have them in a See But Don’t Touch situation with your other birds?
If they're in sight of your other chickens, they may just be relating more to chickens than you. It will also be much easier to integrate much sooner if kept in close proximity to your older birds.

But if you're brooding separately, it could just be that these chicks have different personalities, or their age when you got them. It's funny... my first 3 chickens followed me all over too, and this year (3 years later) I have 2 chicks that don't. Maybe it's because I spent time training my first ones a special call every time I saw them or gave them treats. I haven't really spent the time teaching that with my new ones so they don't come when I call. But they don't mind being picked up or handled, they're 5 weeks old now.

I do remember with my first and 2nd groups, they both went through a stage when they did not like me at all, it hurt my feelings. But later when they started laying, they were the friendliest calmest chickens ever. I think these new ones are approaching that stage but I hope they'll mellow out over time.

You can try to teach your chicks to come with a certain call or sound you make by using it every time you feed or give treats. Soon they'll associate the sound with you and come running.

 

[danceswithronin]

I do remember with my first and 2nd groups, they both went through a stage when they did not like me at all, it hurt my feelings.

Every chick I've ever raised goes through this stage around 3-5 weeks old where they want nothing to do with me, but then they start coming back around at 6-8 weeks for whatever reason - mostly when they start to see me as the source of scratch and mealworms I think.

I also think maybe it's just the part of their brain developing that has to do with predator evasion or something, because they become very touchy about being approached from overhead (or a standing position) at that age, but if I sit down in the floor of the run with them they're fine.

 

[littlebarngirl]

when my three older chickens were little they would follow me around like i was their mom. now i have two new chicks that i’ve had for about a week and they don’t follow me. what do i do

I sing a simple "good morning song" to all of my chicks. They respond very well to the sound of my song and perk up when they hear me approach their place in the morning. They learn to listen and follow this first, then I add a daily meal worm treat to the routine. I make sure to hold them close to my face and hair, so they learn to recognize me early on. It seems they all try a little independence at times but will mostly return to shadow me outback. I added a picture of my dog, Martin getting to know them too.

 

[Henriettamom919]

I'm going through this with my babies. My older girls follow me like puppies but in the last week or so my babies act like I'm a fox come to murder them! We're sticking it out with daily handling and treats, lots of talking, etc.

Once they're in the coop I'll do what I did to win over my big girls, they were about 18wks when we brought them home and hadn't had much one on one with their human. Like the others I'd say the same morning greeting, offer treats when they came up to me willingly and gently handled them.

Find a bonding routine, offer bits of yummies for encouragement and they'll probably come around. If not, at the very least, they'll come to trust you!

 

[emmakate]

Are your new chicks a week old, or are they older?
Do you have them in a See But Don’t Touch situation with your other birds?
If they're in sight of your other chickens, they may just be relating more to chickens than you. It will also be much easier to integrate much sooner if kept in close proximity to your older birds.

But if you're brooding separately, it could just be that these chicks have different personalities, or their age when you got them. It's funny... my first 3 chickens followed me all over too, and this year (3 years later) I have 2 chicks that don't. Maybe it's because I spent time training my first ones a special call every time I saw them or gave them treats. I haven't really spent the time teaching that with my new ones so they don't come when I call. But they don't mind being picked up or handled, they're 5 weeks old now.

I do remember with my first and 2nd groups, they both went through a stage when they did not like me at all, it hurt my feelings. But later when they started laying, they were the friendliest calmest chickens ever. I think these new ones are approaching that stage but I hope they'll mellow out over time.

You can try to teach your chicks to come with a certain call or sound you make by using it every time you feed or give treats. Soon they'll associate the sound with you and come running.

I'm going through this with my babies. My older girls follow me like puppies but in the last week or so my babies act like I'm a fox come to murder them! We're sticking it out with daily handling and treats, lots of talking, etc.

Once they're in the coop I'll do what I did to win over my big girls, they were about 18wks when we brought them home and hadn't had much one on one with their human. Like the others I'd say the same morning greeting, offer treats when they came up to me willingly and gently handled them.

Find a bonding routine, offer bits of yummies for encouragement and they'll probably come around. If not, at the very least, they'll come to trust you!

they’re about 2-3 weeks. i don’t let the older ones and the littles interact, but when i take the chicks outside they might see the older ones from across the yard and the older ones will see them. should i not let the chicks be able to see the chickens for right now?

 

[emmakate]

I'm going through this with my babies. My older girls follow me like puppies but in the last week or so my babies act like I'm a fox come to murder them! We're sticking it out with daily handling and treats, lots of talking, etc.

Once they're in the coop I'll do what I did to win over my big girls, they were about 18wks when we brought them home and hadn't had much one on one with their human. Like the others I'd say the same morning greeting, offer treats when they came up to me willingly and gently handled them.

Find a bonding routine, offer bits of yummies for encouragement and they'll probably come around. If not, at the very least, they'll come to trust you!

yeah my older ones are going through a phase i think where they don’t want anything to do with me. they haven’t started laying yet but i think they’re about to start. the chicks trust me to hold them and they’re really comfortable around me i’m just kind of hurt that they don’t see me as their mother like my older ones did.

 

[Henriettamom919]

they’re about 2-3 weeks. i don’t let the older ones and the littles interact, but when i take the chicks outside they might see the older ones from across the yard and the older ones will see them. should i not let the chicks be able to see the chickens for right now?

It doesn't sound like they're interacting with the bigger girls enough to affect how they respond to you. I think it's really just the age and as they get older they seem to come around. Mine are very interested in each other at the moment; I think they're establishing a beginners pecking order.

Just keep spending time with them, let them hear you talk and offer treats to gain their interest. Eventually they'll come to associate you as a person with potentially yummy things and a safe place to be!

 

[emmakate]

I sing a simple "good morning song" to all of my chicks. They respond very well to the sound of my song and perk up when they hear me approach their place in the morning. They learn to listen and follow this first, then I add a daily meal worm treat to the routine. I make sure to hold them close to my face and hair, so they learn to recognize me early on. It seems they all try a little independence at times but will mostly return to shadow me outback. I added a picture of my dog, Martin getting to know them too.

ok so maybe i should try to create a routine so they know what’s going on and are more comfortable?

 

[emmakate]

It doesn't sound like they're interacting with the bigger girls enough to affect how they respond to you. I think it's really just the age and as they get older they seem to come around. Mine are very interested in each other at the moment; I think they're establishing a beginners pecking order.

Just keep spending time with them, let them hear you talk and offer treats to gain their interest. Eventually they'll come to associate you as a person with potentially yummy things and a safe place to be!

so should i let them be around the older ones? and thanks for the tips