How to get baby chicks to bond with you

[KellyMarie3792]

Hello! I just got 8 polish chicks and it’s my first time raising them. Any good tips how to get them to bond with you and build their trust? I’ve only had them 3 days. Thank you!

 

[ninja333pirate]

What I found helped was to let them eat there crumbles out of my hand, it got them use to me fairly quickly (only suggest this while they are younger as when they get bigger they can miss and bite your hand instead), also starting in the second week I took scrambled eggs and blended it with there crumbles and some rolled oats in a food processor, they go nuts over it. If they wont try it at first peck at it with your finger like a mother hen would do. once they got a few weeks old I started giving them a little bread, cucumbers, tomatoes etc.

But the best thing you can do is just spend at least an hour a day with them every single day. that way they get use to your presence. Also keep in mind all chickens have there own personality, some will love to sit and sleep in your hands, and some with prefer to keep there distance.

 

[Ryguy3684]

Everything said above is good. Also, sit with them and let them climb on your lap. Don't pick them up from above, it will trigger a predatory response. Instead, get low and slide your hand under them. They will all have their own personalities. Of my 9 BO hens, 3 will sit in the hammock with me, 2 don't care unless I'm feeding them, and the rest are in between. They were all raised the same way, so some things you can't control. Once you start giving treats to win them over, remember to provide chick grit and only about 10% of their diet should be treats.