some advise please

[ladizzlee]

so i have 4 chickens total.
2 are around 2 months old and i have 2 that might be around 2-3 weeks old.

raising the first two were a breeze they were sweet and i would take them outside all the time and they would hang out in my garden and dust bathe and peck at everything but never attempted or tried to run off.

now these two newbies *sigh*
they are very rebellious. i’m having a few problems with them on thesocializing side of everything. they do seem like they are attached to each other but they don’t want to socialize with my husband or i at all, they just peck at our hands at every chance they get. i have been afraid to let them go outside with how skiddish they are with me because i’m afraid i’ll lose one or both of them. well today husband decided while i was at work to take them out for some fresh air and one of the chicks just ran away to our neighbors house and he finally got the chick back from our neighbor. but how do i go about this because eventually i’m gonna have to put them outside but i’m afraid they’ll leave.

also another thing with these chicks is i don’t know if they’re eating their chick feed. when i first got them they were day olds and i blended their food into a chunky powder and they ate it and now i gave them the feed how it comes and i don’t think they’ve touched it. what should i do about this ?

also i wish my bigger chickens can show them it’s not so bad here lol. they’re so nice and follow me everywhere.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Are they different breeds? Most of mine fall in the latter category and run from me too until they are older.

Most young birds need to be confined for their own safety. I would set up an outside secured pen for them.

Two chicks wouldn't eat much feed. As long as it's fresh, and smells good I wouldn't worry.

 

[Willow2253]

Check their crops near the end of the day to see if they’re eating. If they are there will be a bulge on one side of their chest, and you’ll have nothing to worry about. Otherwise both sides will be flat and symmetrical. The crop will be empty in the morning because they’ve been sleeping and digesting all night, but later in the day they’ll have had the time to fill it up.
I agree with the post above, you need some kind of enclosure to be able to close them in when they’re outside. It’s both for their safety and so that they don’t go running off.