I want my chicks to love me!!!!

[al6517]

 

[AUChick9202]

I am new to chickens too....if fact this is the first time that I have ever owned a bird! I also want my chickens to like me like a pet, but learned really fast that they were not like other pets I have had. I don't really hold mine due to loud "screaming" when I would go to pick them up. I spend a considerable amount of time with them at least twice a day....cleaning up their brooder, feeding them. Mine are only 2-3 weeks old, but they are warming up to me I think. What I do is lay my hand flat...palm up and they will walk onto it....then I raise it slightly and let them "roost" on it. I have also found that mine like it when I rub their chest with my thumb while they are roosting. It is getting to where they are "roosting" on my hand and arms two at a time

 

[ChickenCanoe]

All good stuff especially from theoldchick. It will come with time.
When they're 3 or 4 weeks old, sit with them and put mealworms on the floor between your legs so they have to come to you for the treat.
Soon they'll be begging for attention.

I have Penedesencas that hated the sight of me just because I'm human. Once they relaxed enough to know I=food, they continue to calm down.

 

[AnaD]

I asked a Q like this WAAAY early on in my chick experience. As a dog person it was hard to get used to the fact that chickens are not dogs and wont run up to you and sit in your lap. I didn't go into all the intensive chick handling and treat giving like I was told to do to get tame birds because I have too much to do to invest that much time. I feed my birds and I talk to them and we are all in close quarters in the yard and that seems to be enough for them to come to me when I call they sit next to me when I sit down they are rather easy to catch...I didn't do anything special. I was just there. They didn't like me at first! They didn't want to be handled in the brooder and I didn't want to worry them whenever I come near so I would just sit near. When I put them outside they suddenly saw me as a protector and not an enemy. I am happy with my relationship with my birds. I hope you can find a good relationship with yours

 

[Mallory]

I'm a dog person too, and while I know that a chick or pullet or cockerel isn't going to fall in love with me just because I scratch its head, doesn't mean I won't feel like you did. So its good to know that I'll have to be patient.

Regarding what folks have said about quiet and no loud noises. Where I live, there is a train yard behind us. These trains screech and whine all day and all night. Sometimes they make a large *boom boom boom* all up the train as it comes to a stop and each car slams into the one in front of it.

Will the birds always spook at this or will they adjust and like my family, not be bothered by it at all. (In fact, I need the trains to be loud. lol White noise!! Sometimes they make me think of whales singing. That probably makes me sound like a nutso though. haha)

 

[KatieandRon]

I also want my chicks to love me, and feel like they freak out every time I put my hand in the brooder to change their food and water, etc! I have heard some of you say we should hold them close to us and let them fall asleep, but shouldn't they be in the brooder, close to the heat lamp, at all times the first few weeks? My girls just turned 1 week old, and I am nervous to take them out of the warmth of their brooder for too long! Thoughts??

 

[AnaD]

We live near a busy road where there are sirens often and sometimes loud motorcycles and sometimes my dogs will start barking a lot for no apparent reason. At first my chikens would run for cover, but they quickly learned to ignore it and go about their business as usual.

 

[SierraView]

I have a 7mo old bantam cochin roo that just in the last week has become overly affectionate. He will fly into my arms whenever I walk out the door. I give all my chickens kitchen scraps almost every day and they will all eat out of my hand. They don't really want to be picked up and held, but this one roo is being lovable. He likes being scratched on the back of his head and is as friendly as a cat.

I think the reason he became so tame is last week another roo had him pened down and my daughter rescued him. Then she carried him around for a couple hours and was offering him treats. . I think he started to like being pet and thought this is not so bad. It kinda scared me the first time he came flying at me, then he just sat on my arm like a happy chicken.

 

[al6517]

My take on the whole thing is they will like you more if you don't mess with them and want to hold and scare them and treat them like humans, and let them be chickens. IMO.

AL

 

[creepinturtle]

I handle mine all the time, they will get used to it. I have a rooster that looks for me to play with him every time I go out the back door. but he doesn't play fair, he tries to sneak up behind us and flog us when we aren't paying attention then crow boastfully about it lol.