Scared-ey Chicks

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karenmragan

karenmragan

Songster
Jul 12, 2019
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Grand Junction, CO
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.
3wkchicks2.jpg
 
Your hen is doing her job. I also have a hen and chicks acting the same way.
As the chicks get older the hen will mellow out and if you are like me and sit with your chickens often, Bring everybody a treet trains them that good thins happen when you appear and they learn to trust you.
If you press yourself on them they will only become more scared of you.
Love the picture!
 
karenmragan said:
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
Click to expand...
It's a perfectly natural reaction for chicks to be scared of humans.
Relax, don't force the issue. Let mum raise the chicks and don't try to handle them.
When they are fully feathered and mum has finished caring for them that is the time to try and make firends with them.
 
Shadrach said:
It's a perfectly natural reaction for chicks to be scared of humans.
Relax, don't force the issue. Let mum raise the chicks and don't try to handle them.
When they are fully feathered and mum has finished caring for them that is the time to try and make firends with them.
Click to expand...
Oops! I already chased them around to pick each chick up today. I thought that would get them used to being handled.
I will try to just spend time near them talking and bringing treats as often as I can. At what age for the chicks is it typical for the mother to act normally again?
 
No, don't chase them around; that's stressful. I hug and handle my pullets a lot, but they're still skittish of me, one especially. I call her Crybaby because she'll try her hardest to run away when I reach for her and she'll scream when caught. But after I hold her, she'll be sweet and chirp in response to my talking to her. :hmm
 
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!
 

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