my chicks DON'T hate me :)

[herefordlovinglady]

On march 5th i bought 8 two week old chicks from the hardware store. i sit with them a lot and just watch them. when i am sitting with them i put my hands in the brooder, and move it around, i pick up the chicks (as they yell at me), but here it is two weeks later and they still run from me when i go near the brooder. when i change their food or water, and when i say girly girls, it's treat time...i thought they would be used to me by now. i really want them to not be afraid of me, especially when it comes time to put them in the coop. they will be free range during the day and cooped at night. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. what can i do to get them used to me?

 

[Gonzo]

Your chicks don't hate you! What kind are they? I have BO, RIR, AU, BR, etc that did great as chicks being socialized. This year, I have 3 Polish chicks, and they want no part of us! They do the same thing your's are doing. I think its probally just the breed. Don't be so hard on yourself. I also got 2 golden comet hens that are a few days old, they are quite, and don't mind being held. The Polish however, are almost 8 weeks old, and when you go to feed or water them, they scream! They sound like a bunch of squeak toys on steriods!

 

[herefordlovinglady]

2 Buffs, 2 Production reds, 2 RIR, and 2 that are white. The buffs are the best when it comes to being held, the white ones are the worse.

 

[Gonzo]

Do you know what the white ones are? Buffs are pretty laid back... I hope the white ones aren't leghorns. They can be a handful. They are flighty and don't take to kindly to confinement. Can be aggresive as well..

 

[juliechick]

The white ones might be Leghorns. They are notorious for being wild. The others will calm down eventually. I have had chicks that ran from me until they got old enough to lay, then overnight they were tame. It's weird, but sometimes chicks are just that way. One batch will be wild and one will be tamer, treated the same way. Give them time.

 

[FortWorthChicks]

The chicks I ordered from Ideal ran from me mostly. The Plymouth Rocks were the friendly ones. They would hop right up and get on my finger. They are still the most friendly ones.

of the group. Now I have cochins in the brooder and they are so sweet. All they want to do is get out of that brooder and climb all over me. I did hatch them though.

I hope you just grab a couple up and make em get used to you.

 

[newlyweds]

Most of my chicks are the same way, but if you work with them everyday they will come to realize that you aren't scary and bring treats! I have two EE that are friendly and the rest of my 6 chicks and 2 ducks are still so scared of me.

 

[wegotchickens]

I try to pick up every chick once a day to check them over for health issues like pasting up or injuries. Some chicks can be real space cadets and get all the other chicks into panic mode.

When my chicks act like that, I let them go low on food for a bit and then hold food in the palm of my hand. After a few days of watching the bold hungry chicks eat out of my hand, everyone starts eating out of my hands. After a few minutes of this each day I refill the feed bowl no matter who ate out of my hand.

Within a couple of days it's clear to the birds that mom's hands mean food, and (mostly) they quit being so 'spooky'.

Some breeds are just easily spooked space cadets, though. And some individuals of normally placid breeds can be space cadets, too.

 

[herefordlovinglady]

Quote:
as much as i have done this with cattle you would of thought i would of known to apply to the chicks too. thanks for opening my eyes. some of the wildest cows have become hand eaters, only from me of course. my dh just shakes his head when he sees me in the pasture feeding a cow.

 

[Turner]

My chick "training" consists of mealworms.....most of the 23 chicks will come right up and eat out of my hand. They go crazy! Whenever I go into the room I am always saying chick chick chicks - they learn your voice - works when mine are old enough to free range when I am home. My older birds come a running when I call!