One Chick Two
Songster
- Jun 13, 2013
- 1,067
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- 206
How to have baby chick be happy to hop into your hand
There may already be a thread on this somewhere-- and this is not scientifically a proven method or anything- this has just been my observation and personal experience/ experiment, but it does seems to work.
I have trained few day old chicks (they are now 5 days old) to want to come running to me for petting- and they do seem to like it, not wanting to leave my hand. And not just want to run away or resist- they seem to be happy to be handled. I haven't tested my whole flock to try this yet since it's only been days since trying this, but just the smartest and most curious chicks came running first. Then, they return again and again whenever I call for them. It has been consistent, but of course behavior may change with age.
Let me explain.
We're raising our second batch of baby RIR. Hens and roos this time. The first batch, we were inexperienced and it was difficult to get them to "want" to engage with us at first, without running away, or resisting. I took it as baby behavior, but I was curious to see if I could change their body language to not being reluctant of being caught and handled affectionately.
First, I noticed them within a few days pecking at the huge cardboard walls of their temporary home (boredom I guess). I decided to engage their curiosity. By emulating their quick beak taps on the walls, with a fingernail on the wall using four light taps (where they could see me do the tapping) 3 or 4 chicks came running to see what the ruckus was.
I did the tapping a few more times, moving my hand slowly for a few more taps a few times in a few other places, and they followed, intrigued. Once I saw they were quite curious, I placed my palm gently under one chick's belly, low, but very gently touching/ nudging the legs.
After only a few calm seconds, he considered stepping up, the chick placed one foot on my palm. Realizing he wasn't going to get grabbed, I gently lift my palm a tiny bit, then the chick places his other foot in my palm. I let the chick stand there while I very gently stroke him, very gently touching the ear muff and talking very calmly and softly until he relaxes and closes his eyes. When I see that they are fully relaxed (even sleeping) I lift them and give them more petting for about a minute. They seem to really respond well to this treatment and it does not seem too much for such little ones. The key is a very calm, gentle, patient and softspoken demeanor. This does make wiping messy
rears much easier! lol
Notice the difference of demeanor of the black mystery chick, trying to escape a gentle capture. It wasn't his (or her) idea so he didn't want to do it. Hmmmm..... : ) Now, if I tap, many run up and want to just hop into my hand for gentle petting.
There may already be a thread on this somewhere-- and this is not scientifically a proven method or anything- this has just been my observation and personal experience/ experiment, but it does seems to work.
I have trained few day old chicks (they are now 5 days old) to want to come running to me for petting- and they do seem to like it, not wanting to leave my hand. And not just want to run away or resist- they seem to be happy to be handled. I haven't tested my whole flock to try this yet since it's only been days since trying this, but just the smartest and most curious chicks came running first. Then, they return again and again whenever I call for them. It has been consistent, but of course behavior may change with age.
Let me explain.
We're raising our second batch of baby RIR. Hens and roos this time. The first batch, we were inexperienced and it was difficult to get them to "want" to engage with us at first, without running away, or resisting. I took it as baby behavior, but I was curious to see if I could change their body language to not being reluctant of being caught and handled affectionately.
First, I noticed them within a few days pecking at the huge cardboard walls of their temporary home (boredom I guess). I decided to engage their curiosity. By emulating their quick beak taps on the walls, with a fingernail on the wall using four light taps (where they could see me do the tapping) 3 or 4 chicks came running to see what the ruckus was.
I did the tapping a few more times, moving my hand slowly for a few more taps a few times in a few other places, and they followed, intrigued. Once I saw they were quite curious, I placed my palm gently under one chick's belly, low, but very gently touching/ nudging the legs.
After only a few calm seconds, he considered stepping up, the chick placed one foot on my palm. Realizing he wasn't going to get grabbed, I gently lift my palm a tiny bit, then the chick places his other foot in my palm. I let the chick stand there while I very gently stroke him, very gently touching the ear muff and talking very calmly and softly until he relaxes and closes his eyes. When I see that they are fully relaxed (even sleeping) I lift them and give them more petting for about a minute. They seem to really respond well to this treatment and it does not seem too much for such little ones. The key is a very calm, gentle, patient and softspoken demeanor. This does make wiping messy
rears much easier! lol
Notice the difference of demeanor of the black mystery chick, trying to escape a gentle capture. It wasn't his (or her) idea so he didn't want to do it. Hmmmm..... : ) Now, if I tap, many run up and want to just hop into my hand for gentle petting.
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