Hi, I know chickens are prey animals and are, well, chicken.
This is my 3rd time brooding chicks and I don't recall the other two groups behaving like this group.
This group acts like I am a big scary hawk intent on killing them. They completely freak out each day when I check the food and water. They're about 5 1/2 weeks old. I'd stopped picking them up as they freak out so much, I figured that if I just keep calmly talking to them and slowing take care of their food and water that they they'll get used to me. But that hasn't happened. One day last week I did move them, one by one, from the brooder in the garage out to a big dog cage in the back yard as it was a nice day.
When I'd pick one up - after catching it - it'd scream, but when it was alone as I was transporting it through the house, cuddled to my chest, it stopped screaming.
Is that what I should be doing? Taking them out individually and spending time with them without the others?
What are some good chick snacks to give them/bribe them with? I'd just been doing the medicated chick feed.
What can I do to make these crazy chicks like me?
This is my 3rd time brooding chicks and I don't recall the other two groups behaving like this group.
This group acts like I am a big scary hawk intent on killing them. They completely freak out each day when I check the food and water. They're about 5 1/2 weeks old. I'd stopped picking them up as they freak out so much, I figured that if I just keep calmly talking to them and slowing take care of their food and water that they they'll get used to me. But that hasn't happened. One day last week I did move them, one by one, from the brooder in the garage out to a big dog cage in the back yard as it was a nice day.
When I'd pick one up - after catching it - it'd scream, but when it was alone as I was transporting it through the house, cuddled to my chest, it stopped screaming.
Is that what I should be doing? Taking them out individually and spending time with them without the others?
What are some good chick snacks to give them/bribe them with? I'd just been doing the medicated chick feed.
What can I do to make these crazy chicks like me?