My week old chicks still won't come near me. :(

[valley]

My 9 chicks arrived on Wednesday morning and are a week old today. They still have not gotten over their fear of me yet. I started holding one at a time in a bandana around my neck and they settle right down and seem content but as soon as I put them back in the brooder, they hide in the corner when I come near them. I sit by the box and do a jigsaw puzzle on a table so they can see me for long periods of time...i've let my hand hang down into the brooder for 10 minutes at a time while talking gently to them and they come near me but as soon as I move my hand, they run. I've offered tiny bits of scrambled egg from my hand and they wont touch it.

I'm not sure what else to do! I had chicks in April and they were sleeping on my lap and jumping into my hand within the first week. I will say that i've had to take care of 3 of them with pasty butt...i'm sure it was a frightening experience for them and caused some mistrust but what else was I supposed to do?

Am I doing something wrong? I am worried they will not bond with me at all!

 

[Anndan]

Your chicks came in the mail and you didn't hatch them right? Sometimes chicks from a hatchery can be really really fearful, and no matter what you do they will be scared when you get near them. Give them some time and make sure to be near them a lot and talk to them. As they get older they should settle down. Try to offer treats once they are settled down in their brooder and you can slowly go to giving them treats out of your hands. You're not doing anything wrong, I totally feel your frustrations too!!

 

[valley]

Your chicks came in the mail and you didn't hatch them right? Sometimes chicks from a hatchery can be really really fearful, and no matter what you do they will be scared when you get near them. Give them some time and make sure to be near them a lot and talk to them. As they get older they should settle down. Try to offer treats once they are settled down in their brooder and you can slowly go to giving them treats out of your hands. You're not doing anything wrong, I totally feel your frustrations too!!

Yes, they came from a hatchery. Thanks for the tips. I have noticed that they seem to be getting more curious. When I sit and do a puzzle, they stand around and look up at me. Thats better than running to the corner every time they see me. I had to bathe 3 more of them last night due to pasty butt! Poor babies!!

 

[tcl322]

Hi! I was curious to how your chicks are doing? Mine were sort of the same as yours when we first got them from the hatchery. This is the first batch we have ever had. Like you, I started by picking them up one at a time. They didn't like to be "held" but would sit on our hand when we let go. I also had to clean some pasty butts which they hated. I spent a lot of time with them, like you are doing. I would just lay my hand, palm down on the ground and they eventually came over to investigate. They love my engagement ring! I think that and evetnually getting them to eat some treats out of my hand really helped. They are now four weeks old and we can't keep them off of us whenever we go in there. I might have 7 chicks sitting on me when I go in and try to clean up or feed them!

 

[valley]

Hi! I was curious to how your chicks are doing? Mine were sort of the same as yours when we first got them from the hatchery. This is the first batch we have ever had. Like you, I started by picking them up one at a time. They didn't like to be "held" but would sit on our hand when we let go. I also had to clean some pasty butts which they hated. I spent a lot of time with them, like you are doing. I would just lay my hand, palm down on the ground and they eventually came over to investigate. They love my engagement ring! I think that and evetnually getting them to eat some treats out of my hand really helped. They are now four weeks old and we can't keep them off of us whenever we go in there. I might have 7 chicks sitting on me when I go in and try to clean up or feed them!

awesome! Mine are a little better today, I think. I let my arm hang down in the brooder today and they were curious about it. I wiggled my fingers a little and they come a little closer. We put a roost in the box yesterday and they are having a blast jumping on it, over it and under it and they're practicing flying. I gave them a tiny slice of finely chopped tomato tonight and they loved it after some initial skepticism. Now that i've found something they love, I might be able to win them over with it!

lol,the chick you see on my shoulder in my avatar picture used to jump up on my back whenever I bent over. I couldnt keep her off of me. But I loved it and her!

 

[valley]

btw...are your chicks is a coop? I am putting mine out in their coop in another 1-2 weeks and I would love to have them tame by then.

 

[Silkylover12]

There are plenty of ways you can do this. I believe you should try holding them for periods of time. You could sing to them, read, do a puzzle like you've been doing, etc. You could also offer them food. That way they get to know that you are nice and kind and are not going harm them. That's my suggestion! Hope that helps!

 

[valley]

There are plenty of ways you can do this. I believe you should try holding them for periods of time. You could sing to them, read, do a puzzle like you've been doing, etc. You could also offer them food. That way they get to know that you are nice and kind and are not going harm them. That's my suggestion! Hope that helps!

Thanks! I've been holding them in a bandana around my neck for short periods of time. I'm always worried they are going to fall out though. So far in the last week, i've sat by the brooder box and done 3 different 500 piece jigsaw puzzles. I talk to them constantly. I gave them tomato last night and it was a hit so i'm going to offer more to them tonight. I think they are coming around..I guess it just takes time. I'm soooo impatient for them to love me back, lol!!

 

[Silkylover12]

Great! I'm glad they're coming around! Let me know if I can help anymore, otherwise, good luck and I hope you have lots of fun!

 

[Mutt Farm]

I'm new at this too! Glad to know I'm not alone! My mail order chicks were terrified! We did just like you, just kept at it, held them every day. My feelings were so hurt. My GF wears lots of colorful rings and a bracelet. They were fascinated and came right to her hand. We used crunched freeze dried meal worms. Not scientific, but they loved bling! My youngest are 3 mos now, all are so friendly, except the 3 local bought Easter Eggers. Did the same with them, they are wild.