Peachick handling and socializing tips

[Artistickatt]

I have had my peachicks for about 5 days now, and all is seeming to go well. Eating and drinking and growing more and more feathers. Since mine are 4-5 weeks old, I wanted to give them more room, so I have set up a day cage and night brooder. Transfers between the two cages have been tough and I think it stresses them and is not helping any attempts at handling/socializing them.

Any suggestions for this situation or tips on socializing with them?

Thx

 

[Waterfaery]

Did you find out their age then? I know you weren't sure before.

Hand feeding is what I have done. Just sitting quietly with the food in outstretched hand and waiting. Mine were raised by peahens in an aviary so a brooder situation is probably a bit different. I was able to sit in amongst them whereas you are reaching in to their space.

When I have had chicken chicks in a brooder, I put the brooder at eye level so that they could see me coming from the same level as them and not reaching down from above. They are primed to be aware of aerial predators.

I don't know about the transfer situation. Could you connect the two cages so that they can move between them?

It's probably a good thing that they're imprinted on each other and wary of you. When they imprint on people you can end up with aggressive peacocks. Having them cautious but growing to trust you is ideal. They will get friendlier over time. You just need to be patient and enjoy the process.

 

[Artistickatt]

Did you find out their age then? I know you weren't sure before.

Hand feeding is what I have done. Just sitting quietly with the food in outstretched hand and waiting. Mine were raised by peahens in an aviary so a brooder situation is probably a bit different. I was able to sit in amongst them whereas you are reaching in to their space.

When I have had chicken chicks in a brooder, I put the brooder at eye level so that they could see me coming from the same level as them and not reaching down from above. They are primed to be aware of aerial predators.

I don't know about the transfer situation. Could you connect the two cages so that they can move between them?

It's probably a good thing that they're imprinted on each other and wary of you. When they imprint on people you can end up with aggressive peacocks. Having them cautious but growing to trust you is ideal. They will get friendlier over time. You just need to be patient and enjoy the process.

The breeder said “a month”, but I believe they are spaced with about a week to 10 days between them, from what I have seen of other chick pictures. The biggest is markedly bigger (body and leg size) than the smallest, and I get the impression they were raised by peahens in a barn and were not socialized.

My brooder is 4’x2’x2’ and I thought it was too small for three but maybe not yet. Your description of your process makes sense (i should have considered that, I have had other birds, floor not great position). My brooder is at table level, and that explains why those interactions are easier. I have just missed the weeks with them at this level. It won’t be too long before I have to transition them to our large floored hutch/coop and they will be there till they are 4 months. And unfortunately that is not far off the ground. Possibly a day cage is really not needed yet as there is no way to connect the too (even if I get creative).

 

[KsKingBee]

Be very cautions about imprinting a male, most of the time it does not turn out well.

 

[Artistickatt]

Be very cautions about imprinting a male, most of the time it does not turn out well.

I had read that several places. That doesn’t seem like it will be an issue, as these are very wary of me and don’t want to be with in 5 feet of me, lol. I just don’t want to traumatize them either. When I am within 5 feet they huddle to the corner and outside of that they seem very comfortable. Maybe that is “socialized” as it gets for these guys, and that is fine. I am enjoying my time watching them.

 

[KsKingBee]

I had read that several places. That doesn’t seem like it will be an issue, as these are very wary of me and don’t want to be with in 5 feet of me, lol. I just don’t want to traumatize them either. When I am within 5 feet they huddle to the corner and outside of that they seem very comfortable. Maybe that is “socialized” as it gets for these guys, and that is fine. I am enjoying my time watching them.

There is a big difference between imprinted and tame. Imprinted are the ones that think of you as momma and willingly let you pet and hold them, tame is friendly enough to come and take treats from your hand but don't want to be touched. Imprinted hens are a joy to have and will also teach their chicks to be friendly. I have many tame birds that will come for treats but stay at arms reach but even this will lead to having no fear of humans and problems will arise with the cocks when they begin to mature and start staking out their breeding territory of which they will not allow humans to be in. At that point they will stalk and flog anyone they don't want near them. Enjoy having a relationship with your birds but be aware of some of the potential consequences and have a plan for how you will deal with it.

 

[Artistickatt]

Tame, yes that is the best word. I have seen where imprinting with other birds can go awry and had read about Peachicks screaming when the owner left the room. I see how upset they become when I separate them from each other during transfer.

The leader of this group, Han, he is very wary of me but is smart (they all are) and figured out a live meal worm was good to eat and watches me. He also has no problem flying.

By the way, when did live meal worms become so HUGE!

Leia, my white one is the smallest of the three and honestly, it is weird, she gives off a female vibe, guess time will tell. It may be that she displays more babychick tendencies. But the oldest seems to set the tone. I love how I can already identify the different calls/sounds like Han’s “I see a meal worm”. The other two don’t take interest in them.

I remember how tame my chickens were years ago, and wanted that for these guys. I wanted an easier time treating them if needed to if they were injured or sick.

By the way, what is the constant beak-pecking about?