New chicks

[Steleona]

I have 5 approximately 3 week old chicks. How can i interact/handle them without them being so scared? Every time i open to coop to feed or water them they run. When i go to pick one up they run. I want to be able to socialize then to myself and other humans so they are easy to transfer to the big coop when ready and easy to handle since my niece is enjoying them. Any suggestions?

 

[Folly's place]

Especially if your brooder is accessed from the top, it's normal for them to be scared. Overhead is danger, and it's instinct, and it's fine.
When you have them at your coop (pictures!) you can sit out there with food and they will get more comfortable with your presence.
Some chickens are okay with being held, and some will always want to maintain some distance. They aren't dogs or cats! Small children are safest enjoying them without holding them anyway, especially near their faces or eyes. Chickens peck!
Mary

 

[Buckeye Amy]

I like to hand feed them a bit of scrambled egg. I mash it really good with a fork first to make the particles tiny. The I sprinkle a bit of chick grit over the egg so they ingest a bit of it with the egg. It's just a treat, so I only offer it one or twice a day. It gives them a chance to learn that hands offer nice things, and aren't so scary after all. It also gives me a few minutes of very necessary stress relief after a hard night at work. Here is my current batch of chicks enjoying some scrambled egg. The tiny brown bits are the chick grit.

 

[Steleona]

How long did it take for them to realize there was no harm?

I like to hand feed them a bit of scrambled egg. I mash it really good with a fork first to make the particles tiny. The I sprinkle a bit of chick grit over the egg so they ingest a bit of it with the egg. It's just a treat, so I only offer it one or twice a day. It gives them a chance to learn that hands offer nice things, and aren't so scary after all. It also gives me a few minutes of very necessary stress relief after a hard night at work. Here is my current batch of chicks enjoying some scrambled egg. The tiny brown bits are the chick grit.

View attachment 2074706

 

[Steleona]

Especially if your brooder is accessed from the top, it's normal for them to be scared. Overhead is danger, and it's instinct, and it's fine.
When you have them at your coop (pictures!) you can sit out there with food and they will get more comfortable with your presence.
Some chickens are okay with being held, and some will always want to maintain some distance. They aren't dogs or cats! Small children are safest enjoying them without holding them anyway, especially near their faces or eyes. Chickens peck!
Mary

I understand your concern. Ususally my niece will just hold the chick in her lap and pet it. It took a bit for even that to happen. But she is scared to actually hold them but likes having them in her lap. I dont remember my other flocks being this scared at all

 

[Buckeye Amy]

How long did it take for them to realize there was no harm?

Not long. After a few times they rushed right up to my hand when they saw the little dish coming.

 

[Mamatomany123]

As long as you I interact with them daily theyll become more friendly. My chicks were like this in the beginning. Now at 5 weeks they run up to the door of the run everytime I go outside.

 

[Tinyraptortamer]

So I’m new to take this with a grain of salt lol
my chicks are 2 weeks old. When I open the door to the baby coop/brooder 3 of my 5 are ready to hop out and jump on me. The other 2 run to the door but are still cautious. Just tonight one of my chicks Went up their little ramp and “flew” to land on my arm over the others

so what I did was last week I laid a towel down and I’d take each chick out by themselves for a few minutes each day. I’d take things slow, small pets let them walk around and they’d get a dried meal worm from my hand.

 

[Folly's place]

I have a comment about your cute chicks jumping on you; When they weigh in at six to eight pounds each, and have sharp and dirty claws, this behavior will no longer be adorable!
They need to respect your space, and jump up only when invited by you!!!
Mary