How to get the Chicks socialized to me?

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I start bribing mine with treats and handling from day one. Chickens are VERY food driven. I start out by taking the chick starter and soaking it in warm water to make a mush. They love it and now know that it comes from me. When I open the door of the brooder they rush to see what I have brought them. At one week old they are now eating mush from my palm. As they are eating I stroke their chests witha finger. I find that this is less intimidating than petting them on the head or back. A couple have been brave enough to jump up on my hand to eat. In the past I have kept up the treats (increasing to yogurt and then to grape bits or mealworms). As they associate you with yummy gooness they will be VERY friendly. Eventually as they age I move them outside to the grow out pen and I spend a lot of time sitting out there and talking to them. More treats, more treats, more treats. Eventually the really friendly ones will end up sitting on your knee (or head!). My original chickens come running when they see me now. They dont' get treats every time now, but hope springs eternal.

Chicks this young can be handled gently, but I find that they don't really like it. It freaks most of them out a little. Petting their chest is easy and non-threatening and eventually leads to friendly, happy chickens.

Good luck with your babies! They are so much fun when they are itty bitty.

 

[carladababe]

Quick question please, at what age can you give chicks grape bits? Mine are 3 weeks old today.

 

[tinychicky]

yes, i handle my chicks the second they are entirly dried off after hatching! if they aren't hatched under a broody hen, you become the mother, so, like any baby, chicks like as much attention as possible. it probably looks like i'm crazy, but i love walking around say "book book book book" like a broody hen and having a line of peeping chicks following me

. chicks also love flying around once thier wing feathers start to grow in or even before (my bantam babies, lilac and sol, started fluttering less than 24 hours after they hatched!), so i've found that they enjoy perching on my finger or hand then flying off when i lower them to a few inches off the ground

they also like to perch on shoulders once they are 4-6 weeks old. basically, they more you handle them, the more social they'll be. i sometimes sit in a warm room and read a book with all the chicks sleeping on my lap

if they seem a little shy of you since you haven't handled them in thier very first days of life, try getting a treat (chopped cooked egg, yogurt, bread crumbs, etc.) and calling them over by saying "book book book book" over and over. they'll come running and if you use you're finger to "peck" the food, they'll start eating it, too. your chicks are very cute, by the way

 

[tinychicky]

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you can definetly give them grape now. i start giving them treats like that after only a few days once thier digestive systems are working properly.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I cut the grapes into really tiny pieces though. The greedy little pig chickens will grab a piece the size of their head and run around with it screaming like a banshee.

I worry less about them choking on the tiny pieces. It may take a couple of tries before they actually will eat one. They are terribly suspicious of new foods at first. I tend to leave some in the brooder and let them explore at their own pace. Once they know what grapes are though, watch out! They will take your hand off to get to one!

Yogurt is good stuff too. I put a dollop on a butter lid and sprinkle starter on it like granola. The crumbles make them peck and lets them get a taste of it. Mine LOVE yogurt and it is fairly good for them too. With the big chickens I put it down and get out of the way. Yogurt starts flying as they attack it!

 

[dsqard]

If you are going to give treats I would also suggest leaving some chick grit out for them to help them digest the different foods. They are so much fun when they are little. I have 11 little ones that just hatched out a few days ago at home.

 

[artsyrobin]

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What i have done is put them in the bathroom on a sheet, sit on the floor and let them play..... then this group its the livingroom floor- because the bathroom has a couple blind silkies....

 

[wistlindixie]

I think handling them is crucial to socializing the birds and I do so from the time they are completely dry out of the incubator. I also find that if you scoop them up from underneath instead of grabbing from top down they are much less resistant to being picked up. The top down method is similar to a predator grab and they can instantly freak out. Scoop them up from below and allow them to sit in the cup of your hand with legs dangling. They love it once they get accustomed to you and will sit for quit a while and let you pet them. Strangely enough, my roosters are the ones who like it best. Go figure.

This is a picture of my splash marans...chillin'

 

[chrisrapp4]

Mine are 3 weeks old now, I started putting some of their chick food in my hand when they were a couple of days old, they would come and perch on my hand to eat, now as soon as I walk in the room towards the brooder they all make a mad dash to see what treats I have for them! They love wheat bread, and the little crickets from the pet store go crazy for it.

 

[noodleroo]

Mine are 3 wks old now and are very tame. I have info on my BYC page about taming. You might just put a towel on the floor to sit on and use whatever to make a little 'cage' around you; take a cardboard box apart and use that or something similar. If the chicks have to be in really close quarters with you, they learn really quickly that you aren't going to hurt them...