Need help on taming skittish chicks!

[uniqueblacksheep]

Hello. I have only had chickens a year. My last group I got at 3 days old, held them every day from day one...they loved to cuddle and be held, were not afraid.

I had the chance to get 9 rare breeds from someone that ordered too many. I took them all...They are 3 weeks, 3 of them are 4 weeks. They are...black langshan, lavender cochin, french cuckoo maran, red jungle fowl, gold brabanter, cream brabanter and lavender ameracauna.

They are so skiddish and afraid. I asked her if she had been holding them and she said yes, but their nothing like my girls I have now. They run if I open their crate door and scream bloody murder if I pick them up. I'm so frustrated I don't know what to do. I'm not even enjoying them...except the cochin...she's a doll I need some advice on what to do...is it hopeless at this point. I'm feeding them by hand and they eat and a few will now let me touch them when eating. The maran and cochin are the only that I can really touch when they aren't eating.

 

[Thyme4Chickens]

Wow you are going to have a gorgeous flock!

I purposely bought friendlier breeds as I have a toddler, but here's some tips I learned on this forum that I think have really helped:

- when you add food to their feeder, use your thumb/index feeder to "peck" at it and say "cheep cheep cheep cheep". My chicks would come running, and I think that helped them get used to the fact that I wasn't always going to be grabbing them.

- sing little songs and replace the words with "cheep" and "peep" noises

- sit in a playpen with the chicks and let them explore you at their own speed (see my profile pic!)

Basically, I think my chicks are ok being handled because other than checking for pasty bottoms, I forced myself to be laid back and let them do their thing. Soooooooo hard because chicks are so stinkin' cute!!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Photos are always welcome (chicks, brooder set-up, etc.)

 

[Frazzemrat1]

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!

 

[uniqueblacksheep]

@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.

 

[Chickassan]

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.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

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.

Sounds gross, but they love the wiggley ones!

 

[alexa009]

Except for cochins and ameracanas, the other breeds you have are known not to be docile and I believe it's how they were genetically bred. Chickens can change in personality though when they age. My Australorp was wild as a teenage chick but grew out of it.

 

[uniqueblacksheep]

Thank you all! The research I did before getting them siad they were mostly docile. That was really important to me. I did read the Brabanters can be flighty, but had also read good things. I will try the mealworms. My current flock is very sweet and I think it's because I cuddled them every day, starting off on week 3 with someone that didn't is proving to be a challenge

 

[cholland]

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. Then I'm more at their level, not some big giant.
Let them check you out and and steal a couple of gentle pets here and there. After a few days or a week they should be more used to you and get a little more friendly.

Different breeds definitely act different. I have raised mixed batches of chicks, treat them all the same way, and some just always act a bit flighty.
I have Barred Holland's and they are all curious and friendly. I also have Welsummers and EEs, and they always act flightly. And orphingtons, which are really mellow, but very aloof. They will all eat mealworms out of my hand though.. can't resist the worms.
There is always the exception, and everyone has their own experience.