How to get chicks tame?

[Lotje]

At the moment, I have 4 almost 2 weeks old Cochin bantams. They're hatched under one of our own chickens, so they have a real chicken mommy. Unfortunately, they're scared of us. I guess that is because they're being raised by a chicken?

The last chicks we had, were bought when they were 6 weeks old. They were incredibly tame. But they were also raised "by hand", without a mother.

It's our first time we're having "home bred chicks", so I'm wondering... will they get "looser" as they grow older?

They do eat out of our hands (when mommy does it) but that's all. If we take them they just start screaming and want to get out of our hands immediately.

All I want is that they aren't scared any more, stop running and dare to get closer.

Maybe it all sounds stupid, but I really would like to be able to pet them!

 

[Gonzo]

I would just go for it! Grab'em up one at a time, and hold and pet them for a little while...our babies of still leary of us, so we pickem up, bring them in, hold them close, talk to them, and pet them to sleep on our chests. They'll come around!

 

[ging3rhoffman]

I give mine treats... i got out and say treat treat and they come running, the shy ones are finally coming up and eating out of my hand and realizing that im not a monster.

 

[spotsplus]

The difference is definately due to being hand raised on the earlier chicks. Treats seem to do the trick. I feed mine small bites of bread and call them and they come running! As to picking them up- try to get mom and babies in an area that you can catch one up quickly without upsetting anyone. My daughter found that if you hold the chick so that it's belly is resting in your hand with legs hanging down it relaxes them. When you put them down only let them go if they are quiet so they learn that they need to be calm in order to be put down

 

[Lotje]

Thanks for the tips, you have a bright daughter spotsplus!

It does works!

I found another way: just put your hand under momma hen, wait till you feel little feet on it, and pull it out. I managed to have 2 chicks on my hand palm..

One even stayed to doze off! Of course you do need a tolerating hen...