Socializing Chicks

[AccentOnHakes]

I know, I know. There must be well over a billion topics on this.

My chicks already associate me with food; they come running whenever I stick my hand into the brooder. The minute they see I don't have food with me, they leave. -sigh- They also scream whenever I pick them up and/or hold them. How can I get them to be for friendly? What has worked for you?

 

[allmypeeps]

I know! i wanna know the same thing! all I can suggest is just keep reaching in- handle them all day as much as you can they will protest but after a while they will learn that you aren't going to kill them. They settle down eventually- Mine are onlya coupleweeks old but in the last few days they will sometimes just stand there and let me grab them when they are sleepy or if i move my hand slow enough. I have D'uccles and they are said to be sweet natured but flighty by nature anyway. Though they fall right asleep if I cup them in my hand and rub their necks- lol

 

[Chickeninthemeadow]

I'm no expert (don't even have chicks yet) but I hear they are very smart and they can be 'clicker' trained like dogs! But anyway, with that in mind, perhaps make them 'work' for their food. Pick up a few of them before putting the food in the brooder. Wait until they are calm to return them to the brooder and then immediately put their food in it. They begin associating being held with receiving food so they may become easier to hold. Well, that's the theory anyway. Also, when holding and the are calm, allow them to peck a little treat of egg (since I hear they go wild over it) from a jar lid to continue that positive association of being held means good things!

 

[drumstick diva]

Maybe you can treat them like puppies, sit in the middle of the floor(somewhere) with them and let them explore you if they dare. Don.t grab for them but, maybe after awhile you can extend the palm of your hand with some treat in it. Once a chick tries it they all will. If you do often and start talking softly they may get brave enough to climb into your lap or on your shoulders.

I know with pups if you grab them they may get frightened and run. If they come to you (their idea) they get bolder.

 

[Tressa27884]

My baby blue Langsham [Blue] is the most social bird of my flock. She follows my son around, and happily sits with him while he does his homework. My Light Banham [Dixie] is learning to be tolerant of us; she's more inclined to follow my standard poodle around than she is to follow any of the humans around. My barred cochin [Little] screams whenever we come near her, but once we pick her up she settles right in. My black cochin [Sugar] is somewhere in the middle of the greeting group. We got all our babies two days ago and the live in our living room right now - most of the time they're in their brooder, but sometimes the four of them cruise around the living room. I think it must just depend on the personality of each individual chick.....I wonder if their personalities will change as they get older?

Tressa

 

[AccentOnHakes]

Quote:
Sometimes when I hand feed them, one will get brave enough to climb onto my hand(or just to get at the food, lol)