Pullet Friendliness?

[12Chicksand1Lady]

On average how long does it take for the babies to get used to people?
I hold them everyday, as long I can catch one and they always seem to run away. I even talk friendly to them.
Some of them were already a week old when i got them, so they're probably two or three weeks old.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Are you approaching them from above? Reaching down to get them? like a hawk would do?
My brooder is set-up so I can open a side door and take care of them. They don't run as far when I approach from the side. My first batch of chicks would come running when I filled their feeder every morning.

But, remember, everything likes to eat chicken - it is in their nature to run and hide.

My husband trains the chicks to sit on his hands, so now I get to do chores with a chicken sitting on my arm...

 

[12Chicksand1Lady]

Are you approaching them from above? Reaching down to get them? like a hawk would do?
My brooder is set-up so I can open a side door and take care of them. They don't run as far when I approach from the side. My first batch of chicks would come running when I filled their feeder every morning.

But, remember, everything likes to eat chicken - it is in their nature to run and hide.

My husband trains the chicks to sit on his hands, so now I get to do chores with a chicken sitting on my arm...

Yes, i im above them. I have one the stupid fold out pins... Which really are waste of money in my opinion. My husband is supposed to get there coop done today. Next time i try to hold them i will try bending down to them.

 

[wyoDreamer]

It also depends on the chick I guess.
My first batch of chicks was a mixed bag of hybrids- I ordered 3 Browns, 3 Blacks and 6 Sagittas. The Browns were really friendly - as in I could hold them without panic chirping, they would run up when I opened the door and I had 2 that would curl-up and go to sleep in my husbands hand. The friendly 2 would also sit on my husbands shoulder if he was doing chicken chores after they were older and laying eggs. None of the blacks liked to be held - they treated me like I was a predator there to eat them and screamed if grabbed. Most of the Sagitta were OK with being held, a couple struggled the entire time I held them but none of them would scream bloody terror if they were grabbed like the Blacks would, but they were always a little more interested in eating or looking for food than being near me. I have one Sagitta left in my flock - she is 4 years old and is usually standing on my foot until I give out treats. I have to watch were she is because I will step on her if I am trying to clean the coop or something.
The second batch I bought was 6 Browns - they were out of Sagitta chicks at that time. That batch was not as friendly as the first browns I had - and 2 of that batch will bite if the treats don't come fast enough.

 

[BY Bob]

Try bribing them with treats. If you always show up with treats, they will be excited to see you. Get your hand down to chick level so they can see the treat and so you are below their beak level. It is much less scary that way. Before long they will be fighting to get close to you.

The key is always,
slow, below,
and treats,
don't you know.

 

[wyoDreamer]

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[MaggieH031]

Picking them up from above is probably scarier for a little one. Bit honestly. I think it just depends. My last year chicks always hated getting picked up. Now as hens they are pretty sweet and gentle. But my new babies run right up to me in the morning and are trying to come out the door before I can even open it. Luck of the draw maybe?