None of my chickens like me. xD

[Peepfreak59]

My Leghorns are skiddish, but I understand that is a trademark of the breed. They are 9 weeks old, and I have had them for 3 weeks, getting better each day. I also have 4 Red Star Sex Links, who are 19 weeks, and they are friendlier, I have had them 2 weeks. I just talk to them and take my time with them, it seems to help with their trust issues... haha

 

[genuck]

None of my chickens like me until they move out to the coop, whether it be loose in the coop or in the introduction pen. In the house they run and crash and spaz out whenever i come by. Once outside they wait for me by the door then run all over my feet and follow me around. I can pick them up and they don't care a bit. Might be the feed dish that gets empty over night

 

[True Grit]

I feel your pain BBQ. Since I moved my EE chicks out to the coop a week ago they hate me. I've had to catch them a couple of times since then too, which I'm sure doesn't help. They used to have dust baths on me and fall asleep etc but now they'll edge up for a meal worm and then take off again. I'm afraid if I don't pick them up they will get even harder to catch if possible. I'll keep trying with the treats. Good Luck!

 

[kyeschicks]

mine hate me 2

 

[azygous]

A month ago, when I was expecting my latest batch of chicks, I cruised this forum to pick up some tips. One of the topics I encountered was the problem of chicks being scared of their care giver. That was the most disappointing and even heart breaking problem I had with my last years brood, which happened to be Wyandottes, by the way.

It dawned on me, like a light bulb going on, that perhaps the problem with chicks being frightened, and becoming more frightened as they grow, is that their instinct to flee predators coming at them from above is coming into play here.

So I decided the old "brooder box on the floor" approach needed re-thinking. Here's what I came up with: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4381130

It was, and still is, a HUGE success! These babies have never been fearful of me, and two of them are Wyandottes by the way, and they see me as a whole person, not just huge scary hands diving at them from above.

The bonus is this side approach also saves the back!

 

[gordonburrito]

I think treats are the answer. You need to find something they really like. Our bigger chicks are really picky and will turn their little beaks up at most offerings. At one time the only thing they would eat was turkey and canned tuna which was getting very expensive. One day I bought this container of Planter's digestive mix nuts. We ate the nuts but 1/2 the container was filled with these horrid dried cranberries. Who puts dried cranberries in their nuts? I threw them in the yard only to notice later our chickens running around gobbling them up. Turns out they really like the el cheapo dried cranberries from walmart. Slowly I've discovered other things they like. Non salted roasted sunflower seeds are a newer favorite. A couple of days ago I was picking pole beans in our garden only to notice I was being watched and followed. I was like....seriously? Green beans? I bet you won't like them... Well I broke one up and gave them a try and they LOVE them. Thank goodness the beans grow well out of their reach because they are ravenous when they are offered them. Our most skittish chick (who still doesn't like being picked up) will eat from my hand, follow me around, and on occasion jump up on my lap for a snack and obligatory petting now thanks to regular treat offerings.