I don't think my chicks like me.... :(

[ConnorMayasMom]

Win them over with snacks! Mine love lettuce that is finely shredded and whole wheat bread: I put snacks in my hand and they jump on up to get it. They still don't love affection, (i.e. being held) but at least are getting used to it a bit. I do try to hold them lots just to get them more comfortable with us. We have 8 one year old hens and just ordered 5 chicks from McMurray...2 dorkings, 1 salmon favoralle, 1 austalorp and 1 silver laced wyandotte. Chickens so rock!!

 

[m2wandc]

at what age can you start giving treats?

and can you puree veggies to mix with the chick starter food...would that be considered a 'healthy treat' they might like???

 

[felidaet]

Try the crushed cheerios several times. The first time I tried there was no interest. I left some in the brooder for them to eat when they felt like it. I tried again a few hours and again no luck and again I left some in the brooder. The next day I tried again. One of them finally came over after a couple of minutes. She took one bite and within seconds I was surrounded with little chicks eating like crazy out of my hand. One of my daughters tried and they went crazy again. Now they love crushed cheerios from our hands.

 

[MissCluck]

My chicks went through several different stages of friendly and screamy

. They are five weeks old now and are staring at me as I type on the computer (they live in my home office for the moment). Now they run and peep at me to give them bits of bread and cheerios and I can pet them and pick them up and they are comfortable. Just takes a little time.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[TennesseeTruly]

Well I didn't think mine liked me either. Then I was taking them out of the room that I'm brooding them in, one at a time and sitting with them. They sit with me fine, accept stroking, don't try to get away.

I think its the mass mentality...when one spooks, they all do.

But they need to go into the coop ASAP because now when I open the door to the brooding room, they're all trying to run out of the room. We had a rooster escape for about 4 minutes from the room.

If anyone was watching, they would have laughed their rear ends off. Nothing like an obese grandma and a 7 year old chasing a 6 week old rooster around the house. LOL

Try socializing them one on one. You'll do fine.

Laurie

 

[MissCluck]

Quote:
I want a video of that - complete with sound effects!

 

[BCMominMD]

Ha Ha Tennessee Truly I can so imagine that!

I was disappointed too that my chicks didn't like me much. Now they are almost 5 weeks old and that seems to be resolving. Some are more shy then others. I did the yoghurt thing and I talk to them alot. I don't pick them up as much as I used to - only the ones that seem to not mind it and not Mr Beasley who was supposed to be a Mrs Beasley because from what I've read here, I want him to be respectful of me.

The turing point for me was when I took them outside (using cat carriers) and put them in a dog ex-pen on the lawn. I sat with them to make sure a hawk, cat etc didn't get them and they stuck real close to me and didn't wander far at all.

Stick with it and keep reading here and you will be happily surprised I think.

 

[Redhead Hen]

Mine run from me too. I have had them for about a week. I have been picking one up at a time and holding them. All but one will settle down and nap in my hand/lap. But they don't come running to me! I even sit down there next to the brooder so they get use to seeing me and knowing that I will not always try to pick them up. I tried the yogurt and no one wanted anything to do with it! I even left it in the brooder for a while and they all stayed away from it! I guess I'll try the cherieos and see what happens.

 

[m2wandc]

Because of this thread I'm wondering what's to come???


Right now (day one of having my chicks) they are soooo friendly, if I put my hand in the brooder, the hop on it and peck at my ring, let me scoop them up and hold them, let the kids pet them on the head...I sure hope it stays that way!!!

but because of this thread, glad I read it, I won't be too worried or stressed out if they go thru a phase of not really liking it.

 

[Sequin]

I still pick them up and hold them even if they scurry a bit when I put my hand in the brooder. I sit with them with a heating pad and they quickly settle down and drift to sleep. Most my chicks prefer cuddling right under my chin. My husband thinks it is the cutest thing when he finds me asleep with my little chicks snuggled up around my neck. It is a really sweet and peaceful time, napping with my chicks.