How can I help make my chicks friendly?

[ChickNanny13]

I'm thinking breed has something to do with "friendliness" but as it's been said; no chasing + time & patience works well. I brood for the first week in the house using a plastic bin with MHP before they move out to the brooder in the patio with their MHP.

The MHP seems to help alot, they're alot calmer & quiet at night. I do stick my hand it to add feed & change water. Instead of grabbing, I scoop when having to "catch" them, taking it really slow. Once they're in the brooder, I spend time with the door (side) open, sitting & just watching them. I shake a plastic container of freeze dried mealworms, offer them by hand, takes alot of patience before they learn & will eat from my hand & even climb onto my hand to eat.

I have a Mobile Run, when they start feathering & the weather nice, I put them into their plastic bin to transport them to the MR in the yard. The first time it happened I was so shocked but "monkey see monkey do" ... They jump into the bin on their own! Works going both ways in time. But then they're too big for the bin, again using the plastic container with MW, I shake & they follow to the MR, going back to the brooder is another story. They end up hanging out in the patio. So I toss MW into the brooder, in they go.

I've gotten older pullets, I just sit in their Coop/Run on a stool every afternoon for a bit. Go about my business in there not chasing, after a bit I hold out a hand of MW. That don't last too long as some peck pretty hard but they get used to my hand. Again shaking the plastic container works as a "calling" & they do follow.

I've never had to deal with Roos but Kessel23 is right, getting them tame can cause accidents. I've stumbled over my girls when they get under my feet, I've caught their heads/feet in the door as I leave or enter but I just need to be more careful when out with them. They're easier to handle & I love them.

 

[BlackIce]

I agree with Kessel23. The worst thing you can do is chase them to pick them up. Instead try to encourage them to come to you (with food, basically!) from as early an age as possible. It's positive reinforcement - coming toward you means a reward. Being chased and grabbed is instinctively scary for them as prey animals and even if you reward them after you catch them, they can't help feeling and then rememebering that fear.

Now you might have heard of people with super friendly chickens who follow them around and sit on their laps etc. Chickens like humans for food and a high safe place to relax on, and that's really as far as it goes, except if they attach to someone in place of a mother. As far as I've experienced, chicks who have been encouraged to see their owner as their mother (brooder raised chicks) may develop a closer bond with them. This can last into the chick's adulthood. Pretty much the extra two things a mother hen offers that human keeper doesn't is warmth and direct physical safety from predators. So if you let them snuggle with you and protect them from danger from an early age, they might come to see you as more than their keeper. This can lead to chickens who actively seek out your company later for more than just food or a knee to perch on.

I suggest lots of you and chicken time . I have one Buff Orpington rooster and thirteen hens. All of them will love the socks off of you.

Thanks for the input! I usually try to sit next the the cage they are in now and lay my hand on the floor so they know that my hand is something that will not harm them. If a chick gets curious of my hand ill pet them a bit.

 

[BlackIce]

I'm thinking breed has something to do with "friendliness" but as it's been said; no chasing + time & patience works well. I brood for the first week in the house using a plastic bin with MHP before they move out to the brooder in the patio with their MHP.

The MHP seems to help alot, they're alot calmer & quiet at night. I do stick my hand it to add feed & change water. Instead of grabbing, I scoop when having to "catch" them, taking it really slow. Once they're in the brooder, I spend time with the door (side) open, sitting & just watching them. I shake a plastic container of freeze dried mealworms, offer them by hand, takes alot of patience before they learn & will eat from my hand & even climb onto my hand to eat.

I have a Mobile Run, when they start feathering & the weather nice, I put them into their plastic bin to transport them to the MR in the yard. The first time it happened I was so shocked but "monkey see monkey do" ... They jump into the bin on their own! Works going both ways in time. But then they're too big for the bin, again using the plastic container with MW, I shake & they follow to the MR, going back to the brooder is another story. They end up hanging out in the patio. So I toss MW into the brooder, in they go.

I've gotten older pullets, I just sit in their Coop/Run on a stool every afternoon for a bit. Go about my business in there not chasing, after a bit I hold out a hand of MW. That don't last too long as some peck pretty hard but they get used to my hand. Again shaking the plastic container works as a "calling" & they do follow.

I've never had to deal with Roos but Kessel23 is right, getting them tame can cause accidents. I've stumbled over my girls when they get under my feet, I've caught their heads/feet in the door as I leave or enter but I just need to be more careful when out with them. They're easier to handle & I love them.

Great! What is MHP? Where can i find it? seems like it could help me out a bit. Thats cute. Ive had some chickens be friendly and others more skittish. my whitleg horns were probably the most skittish. We've had some good luck every now and then with RIR and i have a single golden comet mix and she is so friendly but i think that is because she sees us like her mom. Seems like i might be running to the store later to get some mealworms!

 

[Skipcurt]

Great! What is MHP? Where can i find it?

It's the Mama Heating Pad. Read all about it here. I'm currently using it as a first timer and I do feel less anxious about having a heat lamp on 24/7 and it seems to be working quite well. I just put them in front of it when I first put them in the brooder and now they go in and out at will.

 

[BlackIce]

It's the Mama Heating Pad. Read all about it here. I'm currently using it as a first timer and I do feel less anxious about having a heat lamp on 24/7 and it seems to be working quite well. I just put them in front of it when I first put them in the brooder and now they go in and out at will.

I'm thinking breed has something to do with "friendliness" but as it's been said; no chasing + time & patience works well. I brood for the first week in the house using a plastic bin with MHP before they move out to the brooder in the patio with their MHP.

The MHP seems to help alot, they're alot calmer & quiet at night. I do stick my hand it to add feed & change water. Instead of grabbing, I scoop when having to "catch" them, taking it really slow. Once they're in the brooder, I spend time with the door (side) open, sitting & just watching them. I shake a plastic container of freeze dried mealworms, offer them by hand, takes alot of patience before they learn & will eat from my hand & even climb onto my hand to eat.

I have a Mobile Run, when they start feathering & the weather nice, I put them into their plastic bin to transport them to the MR in the yard. The first time it happened I was so shocked but "monkey see monkey do" ... They jump into the bin on their own! Works going both ways in time. But then they're too big for the bin, again using the plastic container with MW, I shake & they follow to the MR, going back to the brooder is another story. They end up hanging out in the patio. So I toss MW into the brooder, in they go.

I've gotten older pullets, I just sit in their Coop/Run on a stool every afternoon for a bit. Go about my business in there not chasing, after a bit I hold out a hand of MW. That don't last too long as some peck pretty hard but they get used to my hand. Again shaking the plastic container works as a "calling" & they do follow.

I've never had to deal with Roos but Kessel23 is right, getting them tame can cause accidents. I've stumbled over my girls when they get under my feet, I've caught their heads/feet in the door as I leave or enter but I just need to be more careful when out with them. They're easier to handle & I love them.

Maybe i'll get one next year. We just bought another heat lamp with a pretty safe set up