Imprinting

[Angela Burcham]

Birds imprint, is this true of chickens too.

I picked up 3 day old chicks from a hatchery, the rode in an open box for 2 hours, most of the time my hand was draped in the box. I stoked and cupped them. They are a month old now and not cuddly but don't seem to mind me touching and picking them up. I was told they were ameraucana they maybe Easter eggers.

I picked up second round of day old chicks 2 buff orpingtons and one wyandotte they rode home in a closed box. They run from my hand. And literally scream if I pick them up. They've been this way since we got home and they are about 2 weeks old.

Could this difference be attributed to the hand in the box for the first three? Will the second three get calmer? Is it the difference in breeds?

 

[BYCforlife]

My rooster screams when I pick him up, but not my chicks. They will probably calm down the more you hold them.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Oh, YES. Cackle is rough with their chicks. They don't come out of the shell like that.

 

[centrarchid]

The behavioral differences may be a function of genetics but not of how the hatchery treated them.

If taming them is high priority, then I suggest you confine the chicks such that you do not tower over them when working in and around their brooder. Then consider using something like life meal worms as a treat to reward interactions. That will also set stage for training.

I can detail methods of training that will get birds to point where they will come to you when called if you are interested.

 

[Angela Burcham]

I just bought dried meal worm how old do the chicks need to be to eat them?
Do they need grit if they eat worms

 

[centrarchid]

They can eat them in small amounts as a first food. I STRONGLY suggest switching over to using live meal worms instead. The dried vary greatly with respect to nutritionally quality. The live product is much more consistent. The dried should only be a treat while the live could be treated as a staple. Grit not needed at first as the exoskeleton is largely passed through anyway. Grit more important for harder food items such as intact grains and larger prey items with tougher skeletons, and greens.

 

[Angela Burcham]

They can eat them in small amounts as a first food. I STRONGLY suggest switching over to using live meal worms instead. The dried vary greatly with respect to nutritionally quality. The live
product is much more consistent. The dried should only be a treat while the live could be treated as a staple. Grit not needed at first as the exoskeleton is largely passed through anyway. Grit more important for harder food items such as intact grains and larger prey items with tougher skeletons, and greens.

Thanks, I'll try to find some live. I was going to try to treat them with these to "tame" my littles. I'm going to use contarcter sand in the coop with my older chicks I assume that will provide any grit I need.

I appreciate any and all adivce

 

[centrarchid]

Small lots less than a couple thousand I purchase from Birds-I-View.
http://www.birds-i-view.biz/
Former in town.

Larger lots > 10,000 are purchased from Timberline
http://timberlinefresh.com/
Shipped by mail or to Birds-I-View.

 

[barred2rock]

Thanks, I'll try to find some live. I was going to try to treat them with these to "tame" my littles. I'm going to use contarcter sand in the coop with my older chicks I assume that will provide any grit I need.

I appreciate any and all adivce

Sand is not an adequate grit, they need a chick grit starting at the age of about a week regardless of their diet. Anything besides their starter/grower crumble, yogurt and cooked egg requires grit to be properly digested. At about 8 weeks they can be provided with adult sized grit.

 

[centrarchid]

Sand should work as grit. My birds use it based on the grit contained in gizzards when dissected.