Socializing Chicks?

[tuesdays chicks]

I got my chicks as day old and only the roos were friendly, the pullet waited till they were laying to be friendly. There is a thread on here and someone has a page on taming chicks

 

[write2caroline]

I have always had small groups and last summer I got 26 at once - None of the earlier broods enjoyed my attempts to hold them really. Maybe the first for a while. Well darn it the huge group didn't mind me at all. Sit on me - beg for treats. Greet me. Got another small batch end of the summer and they were like the earlier ones.

I tried everything - sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't - They are very interested in hanging out when I have treats.

It is okay - I can love them with out holding them all the time.
Caroline

 

[azygous]

I didn't see that anyone has mentioned how they approach their chicks in their brooder.

One of the biggest mistakes people make with baby chicks is placing the brooder on the floor, thus requiring that the chicks be administered to by reaching into the brooder from above.

Chickens all have an instinctive fear of being attacked by predators from above. By reaching for your chicks from above, it reinforces this fear, and instead of becoming more comfortable with their humans, they become more afraid.

This summer, I installed my brooder boxes on tables with access in the sides of the brooders. From the beginning, the babies could see all of me, not just scary hands diving at them from above. They were tame right from the start, and all of them have matured into pullets (and two cockerels) that are very agreeable to being picked up.

In addition to making sure you always approach your chicks from the side and not from above, if you make a distinctive call when you are bringing them treats, they will forever after come, like little well-trained soldiers, when you call them. This is most handy, believe me! I did it by bringing them earth worms while yelling "Babies!" Now when I yell "Babies!" they are all at my feet instantly! It's very convenient.

 

[SmittenChicken]

Quote:
I totally agree with this (though I don't have any roos). The treats are definitely a good idea, and you can probably at least get them eating out of your hands in the brooder. But don't be too disappointed if they don't get friendly for a while. I started with day-old pullets, and as they grew they got very skittish and were impossible to catch once we moved them out of the brooder. By about 10-12 weeks they all seemed to hate us! But as soon as they reached maturity, BAM! Friendly chickens.

I think young pullets must instinctively flee from anyone trying to give them attention before they're ready, and they don't really discriminate between people and randy young roosters. Just wait until they start squatting!

 

[PamB]

My chicks were very afraid of us at first. They seemed very nervous about us approaching them from above, so we let them out of the brooder for an hour or so each day and layed on the floor with them. They started to climb all over us and sit on our laps. They still do that now at 15 weeks! Treats are also a great way to get them to look forward to seeing you! As soon as they hear us come into the back yard, they all run over the the door of the run hoping we will visit them and bring them a treat. It is adorable.

 

[noodleroo]

Getting down on their level is really important. My brooder is on the floor in one bedroom and I start talking to the chicks comming down the hall. I sit on the floor with my hand in the brooder, palm up. Outside, I put a towel down on the ground and sit on it. The chicks usually use me as their personal jungle jim. Don't ever grab them or pick them up without them seeing you first. Consistency is the key here.

It might be my page that tuesdays chicks was referring to on taming. I don't sell anything, I just want people to enjoy their tame chickens as much as I do...