Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

Pics
Date sort Score sort
We are new to raising chickens and would like to know how to make the chickens like us. They are still in the brooder and between 3-5 weeks old. They go crazy every time we get near them. Even if we are just reaching in to change there water and feed. We were told not to hold them when they had their down still on them because they would die, but now they are scared to death of us. We have tried dried meal worm treats to see if they would warm up to us and it didn't help. Will they get friendlier after we put them in the coop?
 
hippiechickX4 said:
We are new to raising chickens and would like to know how to make the chickens like us. They are still in the brooder and between 3-5 weeks old. They go crazy every time we get near them. Even if we are just reaching in to change there water and feed. We were told not to hold them when they had their down still on them because they would die, but now they are scared to death of us. We have tried dried meal worm treats to see if they would warm up to us and it didn't help. Will they get friendlier after we put them in the coop?
Click to expand...


Whoever told you not to good them was wrong. I hold mine from day one, as soon as they hatch. For now, just keep trying the meal worms (provide grit) or scrambled eggs. Just hold tree treat in your hands and don't move. It's going to take some time but they'll learn that your hands mean goodies.
 
LadyJane8 said:
We just picked up our new coop! I'm very excited. I am fairly sure we're going to have to add on to it in pretty short order, but I think it will work for now as we ready to move our little brood outside in the next couple of weeks. It is a pretty little commercial coop that has the ability to add on expansion pens. Between the hubby and I, we should be able to come up with some sort of homemade solution that is more cost effective. Does anyone have any suggestions for plans that might be available online?
Click to expand...
We just bought this same coop for our ducks. We put a 10x10 chain link dog kennel around it for more room to roam.
 
LadyJane8 said:
We just picked up our new coop! I'm very excited. I am fairly sure we're going to have to add on to it in pretty short order, but I think it will work for now as we ready to move our little brood outside in the next couple of weeks. It is a pretty little commercial coop that has the ability to add on expansion pens. Between the hubby and I, we should be able to come up with some sort of homemade solution that is more cost effective. Does anyone have any suggestions for plans that might be available online?
Click to expand...
@LadyJane8 We have the same coop and it's great. Very easy to put together. A little hard to get into if need be (and I'm a petite 5'4). I read that it needs a coat of poly before it's set up because the paint that's on it is simply primer, but I wasn't able to get that done in time for our chick move out day, so it is what it is. It seems to be holding up okay, but it's only been outside for 2 weeks. The first week our babies didn't know to go up into the coop "loft", so I had to physically round them up and put them in one by one, but after about 3 or 4 nights they realized that dusk meant bedtime and started going up themselves. We just built an extension, nothing fancy but it does the job for about $80. Planning on doing either a run or a chicken tractor later on. How many chicks do you have?
 
Auroradream26 said:
Whoever told you not to good them was wrong. I hold mine from day one, as soon as they hatch. For now, just keep trying the meal worms (provide grit) or scrambled eggs. Just hold tree treat in your hands and don't move. It's going to take some time but they'll learn that your hands mean goodies.
Click to expand...
Absolutely! hold them now, even if they protest. hold each one at least once a day until they settle down and you can pet them without them flinching.
And keep up with the treats. Put a small dish of mealworms in the brooder and move away. They need to learn that dish = treats, then they see you put it in and out and soon they will immediately come and inspect the dish every time you put it in the brooder. From there, you can teach them to eat while you hold the dish, and eventually from your fingers.
 
hippiechickX4 said:
We are new to raising chickens and would like to know how to make the chickens like us. They are still in the brooder and between 3-5 weeks old. They go crazy every time we get near them. Even if we are just reaching in to change there water and feed. We were told not to hold them when they had their down still on them because they would die, but now they are scared to death of us. We have tried dried meal worm treats to see if they would warm up to us and it didn't help. Will they get friendlier after we put them in the coop?
Click to expand...

Hippie:

For my two cents, some chooks just are not 'people' oriented...but hand feeding and holding the chicks really helps....I had BOs that actually would jump on my arm and walk up on my shoulder....others will just like the warmth and take a nap ....I think it helps the entire flock when they are bonded to you...
 
Last edited:

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom