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

[deborahca]

They need to be on grit before offering treats like mealworms, right? My chick feed is a very fine mash that I don't think contains grit. I have some chick grit but haven't put it out yet.

 

[flickerloo]

With all my babies, I scooped them up one by one and held them, stroked the side of their necks gently until they dozed off. I did this every day, and they learned to associate my hands with comfort and safety. I also offered them chick scratch from my hand every day, so even now, as they are 8 weeks old now, the surest way to get them to come is to squat down and offer a little scratch in my hand. They come running!

Not all of them like to be picked up right now. They each have their own personality and preferences about physical contact. One does not like to even be petted, though she is practically the first to come running for a treat. The others generally don't mind being petted, and a couple still hop up onto my hand to be cuddled. People tell me that they get friendly again as they approach point of lay.

 

[petrel]

My children "broke" our chickens. Ours too have different personalities. Some have absolutely no objection to handling, others avoid it. However, the children just wore them down until they just submit to whatever the children want. The children were quiet, gentle, sat with them in the run, avoided abrupt movements, and used lots of treats (scratch and fish/meat scraps). Unfortunately, this has sort of backfired because now we have a chicken mob. They crowd around everyone's feet and make it nearly impossible to walk in the run. You have to shuffle to avoid stepping on toes. All of them are insisting upon a treat, but some of them appear to be demanding to be handled. Some linger long after the treat alert has been called off and just hover until they get stroked or toted around a bit.

 

[BlessedCountry6]

Today I went into the run and brought some worms from the garden. Some hesitated but eventually ate them, the one that is my buddy and follows me around jumped up on my leg (I was squatting down low to not be so big), It ran across my back and onto the other leg. It did this very slow like. I was praying it wasn't pooping on me. It then jumped down. lol. I guess that is our sign it is working. haha My chicks scatter when I go in the gate and then come up to me a min or 2 later. It is so fun to sit with them and watch them!

 

[topdog24]

Today I went into the run and brought some worms from the garden. Some hesitated but eventually ate them, the one that is my buddy and follows me around jumped up on my leg (I was squatting down low to not be so big), It ran across my back and onto the other leg. It did this very slow like. I was praying it wasn't pooping on me. It then jumped down. lol. I guess that is our sign it is working. haha My chicks scatter when I go in the gate and then come up to me a min or 2 later. It is so fun to sit with them and watch them!

The key to any creatures heart is gentleness and especially their stomach, be consistent, do not start something that you can not do on a regular schedule. I know one thing for sure, if you bring me food I will like you forever. If it's really tasty I like you even more

 

[Barlazyr]

The key to any creatures heart is gentleness and especially their stomach, be consistent, do not start something that you can not do on a regular schedule. I know one thing for sure, if you bring me food I will like you forever. If it's really tasty I like you even more

I am absolutely sure that this is how I "caught " my husband.. Apple dumplings..you cannot go wrong with apple dumplings.

 

[K9Dave]

I am absolutely sure that this is how I "caught " my husband.. Apple dumplings..you cannot go wrong with apple dumplings.

Never had them but love new stuff. Care to share your recipe?

 

[BlessedCountry6]

The key to any creatures heart is gentleness and especially their stomach, be consistent, do not start something that you can not do on a regular schedule. I know one thing for sure, if you bring me food I will like you forever. If it's really tasty I like you even more

I can't say we do the same things eat day but each day we do something with them and lucky for me the kids are getting calmer and they are getting lower like I am asking them to. They get a little happy and excited at times but they are starting to see it scares the chicks a bit. Some of the Chicks come around and some stay away. I just let them be who they are. The one that jumped on me follows me around every time I walk into the area lol. I did have one who bit two of my kids and made them cry in the last two days. I think it's a roo. Yesterday I made sure they pushed that one away. He came back a few times but got the hint finally and left us be.

My hubby is the same. Give him a good meal and he is content.

I am absolutely sure that this is how I "caught " my husband.. Apple dumplings..you cannot go wrong with apple dumplings.

lol. That is how I caught my hubby too. My hubby is a great cook, because his parents showed him how to and they make delicious meals. When we got together he showed me how to make is favorite foods. lol Homemade fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy is the go to meal when I show him how much I care. The kids LOOOOve it too. haha

Apple dumplings sound good!

 

[happybooker1]

My hens are all different ages and stages. One I got from a MM hatchery October 2012 as a baby. 2 I bought as 2-year-old hens from a breeder. 2 I got from another breeder @ 8 months old.

ALL of them come running when I start down to their pen because I BRING FOOD!!! They will crowd around the gate to see what I've got and then follow me to the coop where I have a chair I sit in to 'feed' them. I can't pet them or pick them up but the 2 Ameraucanas will eat bread bits out of my hand or jump on the table next to my chair to get treats.

I have 4 'babies' currently. 2 I got as day-olds from the same guy I got the 2-year-olds from. 2 I just got Sunday from the Conroe Trade Days. These 4 are between 7-10 weeks old. The ones I just got are 'getting used to me' and still try to fly into the fence to get away when I need to put them up @ night. The other 2 will try to half-heartedly prevent me from catching them. As soon as they learn I'm the 'bringer of treats' they'll come around!!

 

[K9Dave]

My hens are all different ages and stages. One I got from a MM hatchery October 2012 as a baby. 2 I bought as 2-year-old hens from a breeder. 2 I got from another breeder @ 8 months old. 

ALL of them come running when I start down to their pen because I BRING FOOD!!! They will crowd around the gate to see what I've got and then follow me to the coop where I have a chair I sit in to 'feed' them. I can't pet them or pick them up but the 2 Ameraucanas will eat bread bits out of my hand or jump on the table next to my chair to get treats. 

I have 4 'babies' currently. 2 I got as day-olds from the same guy I got the 2-year-olds from. 2 I just got Sunday from the Conroe Trade Days. These 4 are between 7-10 weeks old. The ones I just got are 'getting used to me' and still try to fly into the fence to get away when I need to put them up @ night. The other 2 will try to half-heartedly prevent me from catching them. As soon as they learn I'm the 'bringer of treats' they'll come around!!

How do you introduce them to each other? I just got 3 new 3 week old chicks and my flock is around 6-8 weeks old. They aren't running together and the little ones run with my older ones come around.