How to make a chicken a good pet from a chick?

[gritsar]

Quote:
Here's the link to the treats chart:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

Keep the treats to a minimum at first. Babies need their chick starter.
I alway recommend starting with plain, non-fat yogurt and chopped hard boiled eggs. Two things that are good for them and they'll love.
When you first offer your chicks treats they'll probably act afraid of them. That's normal. Leave the bowl of treats in with them for awhile and they'll get brave enough to try them.

 

[Litewings]

Thanks gritsar.

Litewings

 

[erthymom2]

Quote:
Mine all have names like Big Boy, Baby Girl, Honey, Sweetie (you get the idea) that way I call them all at the same time and they answer to it. Kinda sounds like a stream of baby-talk babble but works for me. After naming 5 dogs and 4 cats, I ran out of ideas so the chickens got the baby-talk.

 

[77horses]

Quote:
apple pieces, earth worms, dif. types of bugs, shredded grass(they love the wet, green kind!) etc.... or you can just give them their chick feed. Ours enjoy eating grounded up cracked corn(it's grounded to kinda like a powder, but not completely.)

there are many other things!

 

[kinnip]

I had some EEs in the brooder during the height of tomato season. They ate so many tomatoes some of them were covered in sticky, red fluff. They're all healthy and happy.

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

Back to the original post...... Spoil the crap out of them........ We have many of our girls that require you hold them every time you go to their pens. If you don't then you get the "Wing". Plus it depends on the breed. Some are just more people friendly than others.

 

[Shared Acres]

At night when I'm going to watch TV in bed, I put the babies in a bucket and bring them to bed with me. I spread a towel across myself and have a trash can and a napkin ready to pick up poop as they do it.

I take them out one at a time and pet them for a few and then add another.

Because I'm trying to keep them on a towel, I don't use treats in bed, as they'll start running with them!

I pet and inspect each one and let them sleep on me for a bit while I pet them.

When I go to the brooder I try to always bring them treats (shredded cheese, yogurt, finely chopped grapes, applesauce). The hard stuff I make them come get out of my hand so they get used to associating me with good things.

 

[BFeathered]

I agree with everyone else... spoil 'em rotten! Speak softly, get down to their level, scoop them up from under their belly, not over the top like a predator. And pet them, feed them (and "call them George!" any other old bugs bunny fans out there?) several times a day for a good 5 min each. We liked to "tuck them in" at night with a petting, cooing and small treat. Even at 5-6 weeks the girls all enjoyed snuggling into our laps or sitting on a shoulder or arm for petting. Good luck with your chicks, and remember that they're as individual as people. Some may never enjoy being petted, and others will beg for attention.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I have one silkie who is very friendly. He was hatched on sept. 3. He is from my flock of mixed colors. When I open the door, he is right there waiting to be pet. Its very cute. Just handle them alot. Also, treats help.

 

[luckitri]

My "best dog ever" thinks that chicken poop, especially baby chick poop is caviar. She is so excited about the babies that she can't reach because they are penned, that she has been torturing and embarassing my grown chickenss by chasing them to lick their butts trying to get it fresh! So much so that my bantam flew into a tree for the first time!

All my babies are wild so I do hold them in my lap on a towel and my "best dog ever" willingly licks up any "presents" they give me. They are starting to hold still for me to scoop them up from underneath.