How to tame chicks (teaching them to not be afraid of you)

[K9Dave]

On Celiac Disease.....after 12 years of problems and getting tested for everything trying to determine the cause of my digestive issues and weight loss (very thin and could not afford to lose any), I was sent to a blood specialist for evaluation for any form of rare cancers, etc.  I was down to 84 lbs. by then and terrified something was drastically wrong.  Doc took a look at my entire medical history, blood analysis, etc. and said very simply "I am guessing you have Celiac Disease".  Yes, guessing....and I went on a GF diet.  The change was almost immediate and I gained back 8 lbs in 8 months.  It would normally take me a year just to try and gain 1 lb.    Now, during those years of illness, I also became intolerant of milk, and then...of all things....eggs!  If eggs are in a recipe, that is ok.  Just can't eat them fried, scrambled, boiled, etc.  I drink lactaid free milk now also and only buy this occasionally.  I can drink milk straight from the cow if it is from a cow who has not been fed hormone enhanced feed.  I get some 'pet consumption only' milk from a local dairy farmer for free.  1 gallon a month.  For 47 years I had been able to eat anything and everything.  Now...14 years later, have to watch what I eat and know what is in it.  We even buy as much of the organically grown vegetables as we can afford to cut out the chemical fertilizers in the foods we eat.  Yes, my entire family has adjusted to my diet issues and find that their food tastes much better is much healthier for them also.  They still eat some processed foods....but I have my own GF treats as well.  Getting tested for Celiac Disease is not an easy thing.  Even if they say things look ok and you don't have CD, go on a GF diet for a while anyway.  It is a healthier lifestyle and you remove all the chemicals from the foods you eat and you may find that some issues abate with the change.  PM me if you have questions as everyone is different in their symptoms and analysis.  I am gluten intolerant.

I know this is off topic, but, the best part of becoming a chicken owner is.....I can eat eggs in moderation when they are organic.  A friend of our family began raising chickens and gave us some of her eggs.  OMG!  What a difference!  Hence, I now have baby chicks to raise so I know what they eat and where my eggs come from!  I love my baby chicks and they are coming along so nicely with being held and tamed, to a point.  I still have one little girl who absolutely hates being held and shakes like a leaf when I pick her up.  She has done this from day one and I take extra special care when I handle her.  She is a blue orpington, but still mostly black so far, and once she calms down, tolerates being petted.   The little lady in my current pic, Miss Ivy, is a mottled cochin bantam, and may be the leader of the pack with her attitude!  She will climb onto my hand without any coaching.  She is usually the first one to come to me when I put my hand in the brooder.  

Thanks for the kind words. We'll see what happens. I can't wait to get my own eggs. I was allergic or sensitive to eggs my whole life and then one day, I can eat them. That went for about 32 years and then just stopped. Don't know what that's about.

 

[moms3cuties]

[VIDEO][/VIDEO][quoyrte name="K9Dave" url="/t/882129/how-to-tame-chicks-teaching-them-to-not-be-afraid-of-you/60#post_13462961"]
Eventually is what I wanted to hear. They are all young so I kinda figured the problem would be less than if I had adult hens or roosters. The ladies are finally warming up to them slightly. The roosters come in the pin and immediately chase the chicks off. Makes me want to "deal" with them sooner so the chicks will be happier. Lol[/quote]

I don't have the little ones with the big 'uns yet. They're in separate pens. I won't put them together until the babies stop peeping like little chicks, which will probably be 12-14 weeks old.

Yours are so close in age I'd just put them all together and watch to be sure the big ones weren't bullying the smaller ones. They'll get used to each other eventually.

I just had to watch mine. I put a lonely 2 day old chick (white leghorn) with a lonely 5 week old RIR. They are doing great together, but I watched them for about a1/2 hr before I left them alone. The RIR had adopted the Leghorn chick!

For my friend I put a Australorp 8 weeks with a 4 week old buff and they are both amongst the living!

I do watch my 4 1 yr old hens with the 5 month old chicks (barred rock& austalorph)as the gens pick on them and refuse to let them easy.

I think the key is to watch them together and see who is your troublemaker to protect the others from in my opinion.