How do I make my chicks as friendly as possible?

[Happy Chicken Mama]

My husband & I would watch tv with them everynight. We would hold each of them for at least 1/2 and hour. We all (including the chicks) loved that time. I would check on them and hold them constantly throughout the day. But that tv time was great fun.

When they moved outside I would make sure to spent 1/2 hour of so twice a day with them in the coop.

They are the greatest birds! When we go outside they can't get enough of us they are friendy and wasnt to be held and loved on. We have a hard tome keeping them out of the house. Everytime they hear the door open they all rush the door at once.

Hold thm as much as you can & you will have great birds! Good Luck!

 

[pattycake]

I handled my birds a lot when they were babies, but they're not exactly cuddly now, at a year old. They like to hang out with me and are basically friendly, but will run away if I try to pick them up.

Maybe some chickens are just more friendly? Or maybe I had too many chickens to give them enough individual attention?

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:

Girls will be girls...species makes no difference!

 

[Cetawin]

Just handle them, talk to them, give them treats and be patient. I talk to my girls whenever I pass the brooder, I would pick them up and cuddle them several times a day for no particular reason. My daughter and I were taking them out and putting them on a towel in the bathroom and letting them run around between us and on us ...at a week old.

It takes time and patience. Also remember that some are more cautious than others.

 

[chickfillhay]

chickfillhay wrote:
Wear a ring when you do that. For some odd reason beyond my bird brain understanding. They are extremely attracted to gold.

Cetawin wrote: Girls will be girls...species makes no difference!


What can I say!!!!!WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM CHICKS!

 

[catfish]

My Cuckoos was not handled much when we got them at 10 or 12 days and have been weary of trusting me. They're getting better. They're now 5 weeks and I've been hand feeding them treats. In this case its flour tortillas they love it.

I started by tossing small bites into the run, then I started sitting in the run with them and holding it out and letting them tear off bites. Now I can sit in a folding chair and stretch my leg out like a ramp and 4 or 5 of the roos and 2 of the hens will walk up my leg to get a bite and just sit there and peck at the treat and let me pet them. Its a slow process but it takes time to gain the unadulterated trust of your birds.
I wish all the birds was like that but of the 11 teens only 3 will let me handle them, and 6 will let me pet them. The others are just to wild.

One side note they will all come over to the fence and strut back and forth looking for a treat if I'm sitting outside watching them waiting for a treat.

 

[love-my-wolves]

I have 10 4 day olds. I was very sad as they started to run away when I would reach in. So, 2 days ago I hard boiled an egg. Took about 1/8 of the yolk and put it in the palm of my hand. I do this once a day, and once a day I reach in with some starter. Let me tell you, I have a chickie-frenzie, and now when I walk by the brooder, they all look at me and chirp. They aren't running from me anymore either. When I add water, they all come running!!! It's a good feeling!!! Steph

 

[kees]

I like the boiled egg idea!

 

[pattee]

Yea my babies at 2 and half weeks old are getting less friendly and I hole everyone at least 3 times a day. When I go to pick them up they scatter like they've never seen me before!

I feel so bad as I've waited 13 years to get chicks....

Any help?

 

[stilwellchick]

Be patient, hand feed mealworm treats, keep handling them. Just keep doing it, it will work. Don't give up. I used to pick mine up individually and stoke them for about 5 minutes each, about 3X a day. They are over a year old now, come running when I call them and climb into my lap.