How do i get them to like me?

[ahoyaki]

A week ago I hatched these guys in an incubator, they used to hide under my hand and run all over it when I put my hand in the brooder, then one morning when I woke up to check on them they were terrified and kept running away from my hand. I feed them, give them pieces of fruit, water them, and talk to them. I just wanna know what it is that I might've done that made them like this. And what I can do to make them like me again

 

[LadiesAndJane]

What kind of brooder set up do you have? If you are reaching in from above like with a cardboard box, that scares them as a natural instinct from predators from above. Better to have a brooder where they can see you from the side at eye level if possible, this is the only thing that I can think of not knowing exactly what your set up looks like.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

A week ago I hatched these guys in an incubator, they used to hide under my hand and run all over it when I put my hand in the brooder, then one morning when I woke up to check on them they were terrified and kept running away from my hand. I feed them, give them pieces of fruit, water them, and talk to them. I just wanna know what it is that I might've done that made them like this. And what I can do to make them like me againView attachment 2316978

They will learn to trust you. Just move slowly and talk slowly and quietly but keep talking to them like you have been and they will keep learning your voice. Make a song with their names in it and sing it the same way every time you are around them. They will know it’s you and that it is them you are referring to. I know it sounds silly but it works. Mine still know it and I have nine silly 16 week olds who come to that song each and every time. It works in a thunderstorm when I want them to get into the coop ASAP and if I need one to come to me for a checkup. Just always move slowly to pick them up and spend time holding and petting each one a couple of times or more each day and they will learn to not be afraid of the big bad hand. Try to get down on their level also so that they can see you and if you can possibly raise their brooder pen up off the ground so that they can see what is going on around them or even see through a window outside but not get overheated from it. This will keep them alert and informed to the world and better adjusted to what is going on and much less fearful of you and other things. It will work and they will love you as Mama. I promise. Good luck with your chicken babies. That is what they are. Welcome to BYC. You have come to the right place. Good luck with your new flock!

 

[ahoyaki]

This is my current setup, I'm 5'11 and to hold them I do have to reach from above. Any advice on what I should do?

 

[InterestingChickens]

Don't make big movements or talk loudly while your around them, and handle them lots. Also make sure your gentle. This way when they're older, they will be more used to your handling. And do what @jmns and @thepick4uchicks said, so eventually they will learn to trust you. Good luck!

 

[yakitori]

Mine were scared of my hands,I got them as 3 day old, so I was immediately terrifying to them.
but as they got bigger, and my hand began to look smaller, there were naturally much less terrified. I also liked to sit there for 10 minutes or so, and have my hands dangling in the booder, petting every chick that came by, and just letting them get used to my hands. As they get a little older, you can feed them treats from your hands so they associate positively with your hands.

Whenever I reached into the brooder I made sure to slide my hands down the brooder wall instead of reaching in from the center -this scared them less.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

This is my current setup, I'm 5'11 and to hold them I do have to reach from above. Any advice on what I should do? View attachment 2316982

I think your setup is okay for now. Do you by any chance have a large dog kennel? How many chicks did you say you have?when it’s not blistering hot during the day if you can open those blinds and give them some views of the outside if possible that would be positive but I’m not sure they could see them through the frosted plastic yet. My brooder pen was a huge dog kennel that I put chicken wire all along the sides to keep predators out of them I put cardboard around it on the bottom half way up to keep the chicks from squeezing through. I think all the other suggestions offered are great about the hands deal and just holding them as much as possible. They will adjust. Just do what you can. Don’t second guess your setup. You have a good one as is for now. It’s still so hot in most places. I don’t know where you are but I live in MS and I would hate to worry about young chicks here now. Either way the heat or bugs would kill them now. Good luck to you.

 

[ahoyaki]

I think your setup is okay for now. Do you by any chance have a large dog kennel? How many chicks did you say you have?when it’s not blistering hot during the day if you can open those blinds and give them some views of the outside if possible that would be positive but I’m not sure they could see them through the frosted plastic yet. My brooder pen was a huge dog kennel that I put chicken wire all along the sides to keep predators out of them I put cardboard around it on the bottom half way up to keep the chicks from squeezing through. I think all the other suggestions offered are great about the hands deal and just holding them as much as possible. They will adjust. Just do what you can. Don’t second guess your setup. You have a good one as is for now. It’s still so hot in most places. I don’t know where you are but I live in MS and I would hate to worry about young chicks here now. Either way the heat or bugs would kill them now. Good luck to you.

Oh gosh, I feel like an idiot, I should have mentioned that they're coturnix quail, but on the other hand I do have two month old silkie chicks, they spend most of the day outside in my garden and at night they sleep in a box of the same size. I assume that everything applies to them too right? I live in Central Cali where at the hottest it'll be is 95 or so and the lowest is 70.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

This is my current setup, I'm 5'11 and to hold them I do have to reach from above. Any advice on what I should do? View attachment 2316982

Oh gosh, I feel like an idiot, I should have mentioned that they're coturnix quail, but on the other hand I do have two month old silkie chicks, they spend most of the day outside in my garden and at night they sleep in a box of the same size. I assume that everything applies to them too right? I live in Central Cali where at the hottest it'll be is 95 or so and the lowest is 70.

Your brooder set up looks fine. I agree with the other posters great advice. I know nothing about quail, but I assume all the above advice applies to them as well.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

Oh gosh, I feel like an idiot, I should have mentioned that they're coturnix quail, but on the other hand I do have two month old silkie chicks, they spend most of the day outside in my garden and at night they sleep in a box of the same size. I assume that everything applies to them too right? I live in Central Cali where at the hottest it'll be is 95 or so and the lowest is 70.

I have no flipping idea about rearing quail. Sorry.