I want my chicks to love me!!!!

[al6517]

Quote:
And that is the perfect case for not babying them, I know of more good roosters gone bad because they were not allowed to be roosters, and he thinks of you not as the flock master but just another one of his submisive hen's. You mentioned you handle yours all the time and yet have you ever wondered why he flog's you.................

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
That's not play, that's very agressive behavior. I don't tolerate it around here, it can leave you bleeding. I think you're going to have a problem, there.

 

[iluvsedward]

<3ChickenForever :

Just cuddle them with no other sound around you. Calm her down by holding her close to your chest and they will sometimes fall asleep on you. Just do that everyday and then they'll start to love you!

Thats what I do!​

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Quote:
Noise isn't a problem as long as they don't associate the noise with you. Chickens are going to hear thunder even if no humans around.
I actually run a radio on a talk station 24/7 for skittish breeds.
It really helps acclimate them to the human voice.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
That's not play, that's very agressive behavior. I don't tolerate it around here, it can leave you bleeding. I think you're going to have a problem, there.

Ranchhand : I knew there was a voice of reason out there somewhere, Thanks for helping folks to understand that what they think the chicken wants, is not the case and can lead to this kind of behavior, but I feel we are barking up the wrong tree of reason and common sense here LOL. There are way too many folks here who would rather have a unruley rooster that flog's them just so they can play huggy pie kissey poo with them. Then when it get's out of hand and they do what needs to be done, they'll just get another one and start the whole visious cycle all over again. I do however wish them luck regardless of how misguided they may be.

AL

 

[egg_tastic]

My 1.5 old chicks huddle in the back of the cage when I am doing "scary" things, and don't like being reached over. I chalk this up to predatory instinct. When I open the cage (wire dog crate) and sit at the opening the chicks come towards me. They will sit around me, and a few will jump on me. Some are more friendlier than others which I assume just to be individual temparments. I think it helps to feed them treats out of your hand. I feed mine mashed up boiled egg out of my hand.

 

[AnaD]

Quote:
That sounds like dominant behaviour. I don't think I'd let my chickens do that to me!

You might be playing but he is serious!

 

[louclare]

Don't worry, our chicks were scared off us too when they were babies. Now that they are older and out in the coop/run, they know which side their bread is buttered on. Every time they hear our footsteps or voice, or even the back door open, they come running over. They figure out pretty quickly where the food is coming from. Soon you will be able to sit down in the yard and chickens will mob you, waiting for a handout.

 

[KZ]

Another thread on here had many folks insisting their chicks recognized them and rushed to see them. <scoffing noise> Survival for chicks depends on them not trusting large things that are above them - like hands swooping into the brooder to pick them up. They will come over if I just sit and watch them. Sometimes a chick will fly into the back of a chick closest to me pushing them forward like a game of dare.

I was a bit disappointed when I first got chicks that they were not more like puppies, all wiggly and happy to see me. Chickens are just a different kind of pet, and I actually have enough animals who think they need to be right by me getting attention every moment, like the goats and dogs. If all the chickens did that, I would grow tired of it pretty quick to be honest. I also raise Guinea fowl and Peafowl, and compared to them, chickens are incredibly friendly.

Now, my grown chickens run like crazy toward me when they see me or when they hear me calling "Chick Chick Chick" because they know I usually bring food. They also like to hang out around the area I am in when I am in the barnyard. The person who wrote that they accept the relationship between them and the chickens for what it is seemed to sum it up best. I am sure there is the occasional chicken who is very loving and "special", but most are simply fun to watch from a distance.

 

[effie]

I have some 3 week old BO's that were always freaking out when I went to check on them--they are in a big metal livestock waterer with a light hanging over it. I found if I turn the light out when I have to clean,refill the waterer of get feed they are way calmer-being there are not shadows and the light is not blinding everything else out. It was amazing the difference it made turning it out. I can now reach in and pck them up if I want to without chaos and running.