My Chicks Hate Me!!

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I take each of my babies out one by one and spend 5 min with each of them talking quietly to them. They are three weeks old now and they now jump up in my hand when I put my hand in there! Funny watching 10 chicks try to jump into one hand at the same time!

 

[bethj7]

Do you guys let the hen raise yours? I have a hen who has hatched out 8 babies. They don't won't me to touch them. They are about 2 1/2 weeks old. The hen has not been much of one for letting me handle her either. I got her (and 10 others) from a friend. So I was not around during her raising. They are in a brooder by themselves. I am trying to get them to eat out of my hand some everyday but with the feeder out there that isn't working out. But I don't want them to starve by taking it out.

 

[K7 Menagerie]

Back to the comment on the bowls of oyster shells and grit......Speckledhen told me that the babies shouldn't have oyster shells until they're old enough to start laying......

 

[Ellie]

Beth,
My broody mama ushers the babies into their house when I come in to feed and talk to them. She does not want me bothering them. They were friendly until she taught them to be afraid of me. She is teaching them about predators.... it is natural, I suppose and I am glad she is, really.

Now, the good thing, is when she kicks them out on their own, then they will come to me as long as you give treats and calm care. I hold each of mine that are 8 weeks old every night when they are on the roost. They don't care as much then and get used to human touch. They do come running with the big girls when I come home now... however, they don't let me really "pet" them or anything.

Others have different experiences... these have been mine with two whole broodies under my belt!!LOL

Ellie

 

[debakadeb]

You can put the same food that you are putting in their feeders in your hand...they will probably come eat out of your hand. They are so curious

When I want mine to come to me, I put the food in my hand before I put it in their feeder.

 

[RavenStorm]

Quote:
Yeah I second that, I think you are not supposed to give them oyster shells until they are ready to lay because it can have negative affects on their growing bones. True I'm a newbie, but I have been reading up on this stuff for a couple months to prepare ahead of time and everything I have read says that if you give chicks pre-made feed they will be already getting all of the calcium they need. You might want to remove the shells for now.

 

[basicliving]

I moved mine to their coop when they were 2 weeks old (only 5 days ago) I found they warmed up to me a lot faster when I could sit on the ground with them. If I'm standing or sitting in a chair, they seemed frightened. I sit right on the ground and just put some of their chick starter feed in my hands and they climb all over me and eat like they've never seen food - even though there are pounds of the same food in their feeder 2 feet away! Mine don't like to be picked up. The only one I pick up several times a day is the only rooster I've identified, Duke (and only because he was the only silver dorking I ordered - so I'm 99% sure it's a roo). I want him to be friendly - or at the very least realize I'm bigger than he is as he grows

At any rate, a few now run to the coop door as I open it to enter - including Duke.

I think if you just keep spending time with them, they'll be fine. Not sure whether they'll be lap chickens - but they I would think they'll get more comfortable with you.

 

[KellyGwen]

Quote:
I had mixed a little oyster shell in with the grit when my older hen was in the coop... now she's been moved out to a tractor inside the main run (so she can't boss the little ones). Yesterday I took that mix of grit and oyster shells and dumped it in her tractor for her... Now the babies just have a bowl of grit.

They have been allowed outside for 2 days now and they LOVE IT! It's so funny seeing them finding something very yummy (slugs are the current fave) and having all their buddies chase them around. They are hypnotizing to watch! I lose track of time!!

 

[rooster0209]

Mine don't like me either. I am out twice a day or more. I hold some but still they run. I can hang my hand over the box and a few will come peck at my hand. They all run like they are scared.

how do you tame a chicken? I couldnt tame the guineas either

 

[K7 Menagerie]

My 7 week old chicks run whenever I reach into the coop, but if I'm outside just looking, they all come up to the wire and look at me. And since I started giving them mealworms as a treat, they don't seem to run away quite as much, especially my he/she, Sage (still trying to figure that one out). Sage even took one from my hand yesterday, which is HUGE. Maybe they're starting to warm up to me, and figure out that big funny looking thing that keeps reaching into the cage isn't all that bad....