My chicks hate me...

[hugapug]

I'm just 3 weeks into Chicken Mommy-dom myself but here is what I've been doing. I have one silkie who is about 2 months and an EE that is about 3 weeks. Both are totally different in personality and temperament but they are stuck like glue to one another. Anyway, I offered a little hard boiled egg in the morning and WOW, did they go crazy for it. The EE would try to grab bits and pieces from the silkie's mouth even though there was plenty. They also love cheese and they LOVE cooked pasta. Tonight I gave them an ear of corn and they worked it for quite some time. I pick them up a lot even though they try to run but once they are in my lap, they settle down pretty quickly and sometimes even fall asleep. When I take them out for some sun and grass play, they don't wander too far from me so I know they are not afraid of me. Just keep at it

 

[Reurra]

One thing I ahve been doing for my chicks, is every time I get them a treat, I say "Chick Chik Chik" This way when i do bring them outside, and I need them to come in, I can holler that phrase and have them come running. Of course I would have a treat though, I dont want them to think Im fibbing hehe.

 

[Hamstery]

They also love cheese and they LOVE cooked pasta.

These two things have made mine go crazy and now every time i open the brooder, they all literally FLY toward my hand. Piggies!
( makes it hard to clean the water and refill the food!! lol )

 

[silkiemelon]

I tried the yogurt...but they've kinda been ignoring it. Hmmm. I will make a hardboiled egg later to see if they like it!! I'm very determined to find something that they will like. Baby steps.
Day 3 of bonding: Chicks 2 Me 0

 

[Minchi]

Mine have been difficult too, and there are few treats that they like. I took oatmeal, flax seed, egg, bran, and corn meal and mixed it up for them. They would chase each other around the cage for the egg whites but only peck at the oatmeal mix. I also make them mash from there starter, but I do it in front of them so as soon as they see me start they all run to the front of the cage. (Mash = Starter and Water I use there electrolyte water). I also tell them what I am making. I think that is the best way for them to see you as good is to mix/pour/make food and treats in front of them. They will figure out what it is you are doing and get excited based on if they like it or not. Fresh mash is my chicks favorite treat, and meal worms. With both my biggest will jump on my arm when I put it in the cage. Sometimes I crush dry meal worms and mix it in the mash.

 

[Minchi]

Also a side note, it took me a week and a half to get them to come up to my hand. I will stick it in there and let them hop on it and peck at it, that helped them get use to me too.

They did not like yogurt because it got on there beak, might try mixing dry mix in it at first.

 

[silkiemelon]

SUCCESS! They enjoy chunks of cheese. Of all things.
I'm so excited! Now, after about 5 minutes of talking to them, they will get brave enough to walk over to my hand and eat the cheese, then run back to their friends.

I have prevailed.
Day 4 of bonding: Chicks 2 Me 1
Thank you for the advice Minchi, they seem to get excited when I start breaking off chunks of cheese in front of them. So cute!

 

[JesikaD01]

Yay!
I was thinking about you today mine will not come up to me in the cage but outside they will...well sometimes

 

[silkiemelon]

Don't worry JesikaD01, my older one's are the same way. They are very cautious around me in their coop, but when I let them loose they are more than happy to run up to me. I don't know why, maybe they are just territorial and don't like the idea of me walking around in their coop. Either way, at least they come to me outdoors.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

My chicks are a week old and kinda hate me. I let them eat out if my hand, I pet them, and hold them. Whenever they see me, they start peeping really loud and scramble around the brooder. These are my first chickens ever, so I may be doing something wrong. However, they don't seem to mind being held, except for the two that almost scream at me when I grab them.