New babies, help bonding

[CrystalBDonuts]

Hello, I just picked up two Call babies on the 26th. They hatched on the 23rd. Yesterday was our first full day with them. As the day went on, they seemed to be warming up. They'd sit at the entrance of the brooder next to me and peep when I was sitting with them. Towards the end of the day, I picked them each up to do a vent sexing and I feel like I totally ruined any progress. Now they are terrified of me.

Did I completely ruin my chances with them? Is there anything I can do? I tried treats but they just run and hide.

 

[chickens really]

Well that hurts at that age so possibly scared them..

 

[CrystalBDonuts]

Well that hurts at that age so possibly scared them..

I had read that you should do it before 5 days old because after that it's a lot harder to determine their gender until they're adults.

 

[chickens really]

I had read that you should do it before 5 days old because after that it's a lot harder to determine their gender until they're adults.

You need to know how to do it properly...

 

[CrystalBDonuts]

You need to know how to do it properly...

Thanks you've been very helpful

 

[Miss Lydia]

You’ll know before your Calls are adults what sex you have usually from 6 weeks up they will start finding their voice females quack loud drakes have a raspy voice. Please post pics when you get a min. We love baby pics.

 

[CrystalBDonuts]

 

[WolfGirlMagic]

Thanks you've been very helpful

Yeah... The assumption that you don't know how to vent sex properly is very helpful and unrelated to your question *eyerolls*
If they survived the vent sex then you aren't a total bafoon.
So I will answer your question, yes that could definitely have stalled progress, but at that young age, they usually aren't traumatized for life.
I would start by finding out their favorite treats. Mealie worms, and watermelon are my babies favorites.
Try hand feeding.
If they run away toss the treats and slowly decrease how far away you toss them.
Eventually they should start eating out of your hand.
Then start pairing treats with touch.
With my ducks I worked with them until they let me pick them up, and I would give them treats only when I held them.
If you are gentle and slow, they should warm up!
However ducks in my experience aren't the most appreciative about being held, so they will be wiggly and unhappy. But I think it's important to teach them in case they ever need handling from being ill.
Remember though, if you want to teach them to be held, only put them down when they stop struggling. If you put them down when they fight, they just learn to fight harder the next time around.

 

[WolfGirlMagic]

I kind of wrote a very general guide.
Sorry haha
If they run and hide just toss treats and wait quietly. Eventually they will start to warm up
Just spending times hands off at first will be helpful.

 

[CrystalBDonuts]

Yeah... The assumption that you don't know how to vent sex properly is very helpful and unrelated to your question *eyerolls*
If they survived the vent sex then you aren't a total bafoon.
So I will answer your question, yes that could definitely have stalled progress, but at that young age, they usually aren't traumatized for life.
I would start by finding out their favorite treats. Mealie worms, and watermelon are my babies favorites.
Try hand feeding.
If they run away toss the treats and slowly decrease how far away you toss them.
Eventually they should start eating out of your hand.
Then start pairing treats with touch.
With my ducks I worked with them until they let me pick them up, and I would give them treats only when I held them.
If you are gentle and slow, they should warm up!
However ducks in my experience aren't the most appreciative about being held, so they will be wiggly and unhappy. But I think it's important to teach them in case they ever need handling from being ill.
Remember though, if you want to teach them to be held, only put them down when they stop struggling. If you put them down when they fight, they just learn to fight harder the next time around.

Awesome, thank you so much! As you can see from the picture, their water dish is on the opposite end of their brooder and it's a dog kennel so they don't have an open top. If I offer them treats from the entrance, will they know to bring the food to the water? Should I just keep a dish of water at the front while I'm giving them treats?