My Chickens are Chickens - Did I Screw Up?

[gale65]

I don't like handling chickens. Ours will come running and flock around my feet when I'm out there (looking for treats) but will run if I reach down. I'm fine with this-I have no desire to pick them up, hold them, have them on my shoulder, etc. It may be a problem when I have to catch one for some reason though.

 

[MuckyPuppy]

In a couple of days ours are going to be 2 weeks old. We keep them in our living room in a large 3' 3" x 3' 3" brooder. They are use to lots of noise - tv, music, kids (4) and kids friends and they are also use to seeing us all the time. They all come running to the edge to see us and, even-though they still don't like us to pick them up, they love to be petted and play with us (follow the fingers). Lately they have been getting separation anxiety and shrilly call for us if none of us are in the room ie. eating in the kitchen or asleep (woke eldest DS this morning and he came down to talk to them

). As soon as one of us appears (it doesn't matter if who it is - the kids or DH and I), they stop calling and start happily chirping at us.

 

[LadyB]

Most of mine have become freaked out by me at this age... keep trying to handle them and bring them food. You'll win them over!

 

[Geckochick]

Some of ours react immediately like that as well, but they always come back to us right away to see if we have something for them. We have been hand feeding them since day 1. Plus, I have a number of rambunctious children who all like to crowd the brooder and sit in the pen with them (supervised, of course). All that handling, petting and feeding by hand has made them very curious about what we have to offer. Even if I am not feeding them, when I stand over them and talk to them, they all come over and look up at me.

But like I said, if I sweep my hand into the pen quickly, they do run to the corner. What helps is speaking to them first, we make a "chuck, chuck, chuck" noise with our tongue to indicate treats and then reach in with food. Curiousity overpowers their fear pretty quickly. Even when we are catching them to move them, they almost line up to be caught now. Good luck!

 

[laurabonitahopkins]

This morning, I chopped up some hard boiled egg yolk and for the first time I got my skittish one (1 month old) to eat out of my hand. You might try that! Mine get handled a LOT because I have 3 kids who love them madly, so they are getting pretty tame, but I honestly think the treats have done more good than all the holding!

I covered my brooder tub with just a lid of chicken wire and it worked great, held its shape really well and was easy to get on and off. It is amazing how fast they grow, isn't it?

 

[Pebbles]

I got my first chicks three years ago and I tried to socialize them but not very hard. I could only pick one of my flock up. It is quiet a pain if I must pick one up for whatever reason. I am getting 15 more chick this week WHEEEE and this time I will follow the advise given on this thread and will definitely get them to allow me pick them up and enjoy being with me.

Thank you all for great advise.

 

[tlangsr81]

I'm new to the forum and to raising chickens. We have contact with ours daily and do well. They are only afraid to be picked up but will be very friendly afterwards.

 

[NorthTexaschick]

I've found that if I take two at a time out of the brooder to hold and pet, they are calmer - I guess because they're not alone.

 

[Frost Homestead]

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[CupOJoe42]

Mine are about 2 weeks old and I have been picking them up, petting them, holding them till they start dozing off in my hand, and talking softly to them since they were hatched. When anyone comes to the brooder, they start flying around and happily peeping. If you open the lid, they will fly up onto your hand and walk up your arm onto your shoulder. They haven't been "big" on treats and would much rather be petted and talked to.