Scared-ey Chicks

[karenmragan]

Are you bringing them any treats yet?

My longer owned hens come flying across the yard if they see any sort of bowl or pan in my hands. Often, it means kitchen scraps for chickens, which is a very nice thing to get from the humans.
The newly acquired birds and younger chicks aren't there yet. It does take time indeed and I've got a farm to run so I don't aim to spend lots of time with them particularly. My kids are best at handling help!

Unfortunately I haven't had many treats to give them just yet, but I'm working on setting up my own meal worm farming operation, just for the chickens!

 

[Chickassan]

You can use raisins until you get your worms going.
No idea why but raisins are like chicken/chick gold.
BTW win over mom with raisins and chicks will follow.
Don't be a predator, be a raisin dispenser.

Unfortunately I haven't had many treats to give them just yet, but I'm working on setting up my own meal worm farming operation, just for the chickens!

 

[DellaMyDarling]

Treats can include chicken safe kitchen scraps

 

[Chelliance]

You can use raisins until you get your worms going.
No idea why but raisins are like chicken/chick gold.
BTW win over mom with raisins and chicks will follow.
Don't be a predator, be a raisin dispenser.

This is a brilliant idea and so much cheaper than meal worms. Gonna give it a try!

 

[Chickassan]

That is how I know they work lol! The girls were worming me into the poorhouse.

This is a brilliant idea and so much cheaper than meal worms. Gonna give it a try!

 

[WNCcluck]

We just got several new 8 week old chicks. They're all pretty skittish right now. I've been going out and snging to them (no heavy metal ) and talking soothingly. Little by little they're calming down when I come in. Before long they'll be quite accustomed to me and will let me handle them easily. Until then, I'll just keep singing.

 

[Mark_Khrushchev]

Hello!

I have some three week old chicks that a broody hatched and right now they are in their own pen with their mama, away from the flock. My concern is whenever I go to feed or water them they bolt around the cage running along after their mom and just generally acting very frightened. I have never experienced chicks being so afraid of me before, but this is the first time I've had a broody raise my chicks. This hen was not trained to be super friendly, she is a typical chicken.
How can I make these babies calm down around humans? Is it because they are with a protective hen? I want to start raising all my chicks to be friendly.View attachment 1852063

The hen is the mom and the mom is just protecting her chicks. It's not like a brooder where you can easily grab the chicks since they think you're the mom. The mom is just being a mom and the chicks are afraid of a unknown giant human. You can say that the chicks are being a scaredy chicken!