*Sigh* What am I going to do with chicks with a bad attitude?

[Mycookoonest]

Some of my chicks will "allow" me to hold them, while others are dead set against it! But these are the ones who run up to my hand and peck at my fingers... I even had one tonight grab told of my finger! I think its a roo.

I know that you are supposed to hold them a lot and pet them, but what's the trick? We have a Silkie who is a sweetheart and a mix who is a pip and will sit on my shoulder (with some fear from me that it's going to jump)... but the others (we have 15) really just glare and run away!

My Barred Rocks I got from MPC are nasty little birds... they are the first ones to come and peck at my hand they are all supposed to be female well needless to say I have my doubts!

I've even threatened Rommel with the Dinner table if he doesn't stop. I guess he's figured out my empty threats! He (I'm almost positive is a roo) is just NASTY!

So help a newbie out...what's the trick?

 

[pattee]

Hey your story sounds a lot like mine...
I got 11 chickens from MPC (I loved the people in customer service and they were good at it) 2 of my Plymouth Barred Rock Bantams were what a friend labeled "bad chicks" yes they were really nasty. Then to find out I did get 2 roosters one was a polish...and was a sweetie (but can't be kept in our neighborhood) the other an EE was just like yours! He would grab a hold of my wrist and would not let go... and he has done that 8 times now.... so they were re-homed as well as the "Bad chicks"

I gave one other to a friend on a farm .... so now I have 6 knock on wood all hens!

Ok one thing I do is mix their food with water (called mash) I make it a bit on the watery side and they all will eat that out of my hand. Also watermelon they love out of my hand.

There's just a couple of chickens that will get close to me others scatter like I'm a monster under the bed~... I just keep holding a different one every day.

I did contact MPC and altho I really like them in general I was disappointed with their answer.... like it's not our fault.

I hope everything works out for you!

 

[Eggseronious]

My oh My no two children are alike! I have 3 triplet grandsons that live with me, and 41 Dominiques less than 4 weeks old, now what was the question?

 

[BearSwampChick]

I held all of my chicks from day one. They are now 10 weeks old and the ones who were the friendliest then are the friendliest now. The ones that I had to "chase" down to hold won't let me near them at all. It's just how it goes. My BRs have not proven to be the friendliest; in fact, I don't have a friendly breed, just individual chicks in each of my 7 breeds. They aren't pecking you to be mean. They're just curious and will peck at anything that looks like food or is interesting to them. They love boo-boos, scabs, moles, freckles, rings and especially toes.

 

[Mycookoonest]

They do better one on one with me... but that Rommel, named after a field marshall in WWII (DH's favorite obsession is WWII, the military channel is on ALL THE TIME in my house) definately lives up to his name! He's a little brat! His comb is a bit larger than the others so I'm guessing roo!

He's the first to come up to me and peck my hands... I know they're curious but when I pick him up he squirms, flaps his wings, peeps really loud, and is pecking the whole time in between peeping.

How long do you hold each one at a time?

I feel like I have 15 more toddlers in my house!!!!

 

[LynneP]

I 'm a newbie too and i was lucky to learn before getting chicks not to feed them by hand. I wanted them to learn that my hands are for picking them up and for helping them if injured or sick. I have 7 Golden Comets and five production reds.

Now I do have one little banshee named Ruby(red) who is not mean but who uses pecking to get attention at the back of my leg. She likes to be spoken to, or SUNG to! I'm getting advice on her because when she pecks she twists skin (ouch). At this point she's training me.

I wear gloves when I go into the coop, often removing them after dishing out the food and refilling the fountain. Then it's play time. I'm not saying I never get pecked but that gradually they have learned to be picked up and they now trill or pip with pleasure when I cradle them and support the feet. Ruby will be my challenge!

If you ever get a chance to get the golden comets I suspect you'll have an easier time. They're lovely!

 

[camjac]

I have 6 chicks that will be 1 week old tomorrow and 1 is just a stand off! She will stand on the other side of the brooder and just watch as the others come to inspect my hand. I have been putting my hand in the brooder about an inch off the floor and holding it there for probably 10 minutes. The light brahmas and the black australorps will come right over and walk on my hand or just sit there. One of the brahmas will rest her head on my hand and go to sleep. The araucanas are a little more uneasy. Hershey will usually come over but Mocha just seems to want nothing to do with me!

 

[Ms. Lewis Rich]

If you want chicks that truly love you get Seramas!!!

 

[BayCityBabe]

I have 28 chicks that will be 7 weeks old, tomorrow. I agree with those who say that some birds are just friendlier. However, DD and I spend alot of time in the run, sitting in lawn chairs, doling out lettuce and other treats. The four "lap chickens" fly up & perch on our knees or nap on us. Through their example, some of the others have become bolder. They will let us pick them up or pat their backs. I do have a couple of SS Hamburgs and an Andalusian rooster that HATE to be handled. So I just don't. I have gotten as far as having them eat from my hand. Like any relationship, I feel like it's give & take with these chickens. I am not going to be able to force anything. Something that I have read on this site (alot!) has really influenced my view in this regard: Its the notion that some chickens can be disruptive or mean and that its okay to remedy the situation by rehoming or culling.

 

[xanaxnation]

i only have 3 little ones... but they all screamed at first when i got near them. after 8 weeks of daily handling and lots of food... they perk up and come running when they hear my voice.

i think the adage "a way to a chickens heart is through its appetite" held true for me.... i kept my brooder in the bathroom, id come in with a strawberry or zuchinni slices (they LOVED zuchinni!) and set the 3 of them on the floor and sit down with them. it took a few weeks but they came around.