My babies are scared of me!

[WhenInRhome]

I had a chicken related injury 2 weeks ago. I had been out tubing on the boat having a great time and when I got home I went to feed the chicks. I turned around sharply and tore my knee. Pretty sad injury story, would have sounded better if I had gotten hurt on the boat! It was pretty traumatic, my knee cap went around the side of my knee. I was laying on the ground screaming like crazy for my husband. I was laying against the side of their little chicken tractor so they witnessed it all lol Poor little chicks! I have never been in pain like that before and I have given birth three times! It was a blinding unbearable pain. My husband finally came and helped me straighten my leg and get my knee cap back where it should be. We went to the ER and now two weeks later I am still on crutches.

My problem is the chicks are terrified of me The take food out of my kids hands but they run when they see me. I thought it was the clackety crutches so I got a chair and sat with them. After half and hour they were still hiding. After two weeks I thought they would have forgotten! I have tossed in all their favorite treats but they wait till I leave to come out and feast.

Will they ever like me again?

 

[sunflour]

So sorry about your accident and hope you are healing up.

I think you should keep visiting them and bet they will warm up to you again. Even really small changes stress them out.

I would try first siting further from the coop and slowly begin to move closer to decondition their fright.

They love you and will begin to show it again, be patient.

 

[WhenInRhome]

Thanks! I am so glad there is hope. I at the very least want them to not run in fear but I would love to be able to hold them. Hopefully I can get rid of the crutches soon and get out there more. I have spent most of my recovery sitting in a recliner near the window watching them. They are hilarious!!

 

[MagicPidge]

They may take a bit of time, but will definitely warm to you again. No chicken I know of (even the really, really flighty ones) has ever resisted treats for any significant amount of time.

Also, ouch... that sounds like a nasty injury.

Forgetting about the chicks for a moment... I hope you're okay!