Need help on taming skittish chicks!

[Wyorp Rock]

@Thyme4Chickens @Frazzemrat1 @Wyorp Rock Thank you so much for your advice! I do mealworms with my grown girls, so I will try that and the other suggestions! Just hoping it's not too late to calm them. I have a picture of my setup right now. We will move them to their own small coop in a bit before introducing them to the older girls. View attachment 1409812

They are just adorable! I especially like the Brabanters.

I have found chicks can be skittish especially when you are towering over them and reaching down. My brooder coop is a little off the ground so I sit outside the open door and just put my hands in and let them come to me...
Let them check you out and and steal a couple of gentle pets here and there.
Different breeds definitely act different.

This! Mine is off the ground too, it hit's me around hip level, chicks are not nearly as flighty but I let them come to me. I also have a table about waist high in the grow out pen, I go stand at the table and wait to see if anyone is inclined to hop up. Usually all do, but some just want to be near and that is o.k.- others are wanting a good scratching or cuddle, I let them decide.

Oh...and this handling/scratching/touching does not involve any treats.

 

[llombardo]

I kind if have the same thing going. Different group and not the same. The set up is different and I think that is my issue. I will be putting them into a larger brooder which will give the more room to either run or accept me.

 

[cmom]

Whenever I fed or had treats for my chicks, I always called 'Chickie Chickie Chickie' so they knew later, that I had a treat.... but for now.... two words.
Meal Worms.... they will love you, once they figure out what they are!

Good advice

Make freinds quickly with live mealworms lol! If you want you can start visual training by putting the worms in a little dixie cup that way they know cup=yay! Not knocking the dry worms but something about the ones that still wiggle just really works.

I have a bucket with mixed grains which the birds love. The best way to a chicken's heart is through it's stomach. This is Gladys. She is a cross beak and spoiled.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I kind if have the same thing going. Different group and not the same. The set up is different and I think that is my issue. I will be putting them into a larger brooder which will give the more room to either run or accept me.

Good idea. Even if your brooder is on the floor, if you have room that you can sit in it, that will help. Last year I had mine in an outbuilding. I built a corral out of cardboard large enough for me to get into. I would sit on an upturned bucket and hang out. It didn't take them long to start exploring and they would fly up to sit on my knee, etc.
Those girls are still pretty friendly, a couple more so than others, but they are treat driven.

This latest batch, I have them in a different area and am trying taming without treats, so far it is working, but it takes time.
(Yes, they do get a treat during the day, just not when they are on the table)

 

[uniqueblacksheep]

@cholland @Wyorp Rock @Chickassan
Thank you all so much. I have been hand feeding meal worms and they love me now. I actually have got them all to sit in my hands and let me pet them! I'm so happy. What wonderful advice you all had and so appreciate you taking the time to help me out!!

@cmom

Thank you and Gladys is a doll .Thank you for sharing her sweet picture

 

[uniqueblacksheep]

I kind if have the same thing going. Different group and not the same. The set up is different and I think that is my issue. I will be putting them into a larger brooder which will give the more room to either run or accept me.

I was so discouraged and the meal worms worked wonders. I just have the dried worms, but they didn't mind.

 

[RodNTN]

Worms worked for me too