starting clicker training with chicks

[gingerpeach22]

Orps, what fun you're having. I'm having a big problem cuz I can't figure out how to get just one chicken at a time. I mean, I could carry her into the house and put her on a paper-covered dining table, but would she panic? As it is, about four hop up at once and it's quite the trick to single out moving birds at the very instant one pecks the green lid! Any ideas? Hmm, I wonder if she'd panic if I shooed them all outside into their pen and then rounded her up to be by herself. I never thought this would be the stumbling block.

A studious pupil of the human, Miss Silver Wyandotte, at the tender age of six weeks.

 

[GatorBunny]

I am using a metal 1/2 cup measuring cup, do you think they would be happier with a plastic clear or white cup? I'm still having trouble getting them to consistently take food from my cup.

 

[GatorBunny]

Thanks, I have been doing that, also trying to get them acclimated to the taking food from the cup. I have had some success with the clicker while hand feeding but none will consistently take food from the cup.

What age is appropriate to begin clicker training?

 

[Orps]

No sure what age one can start clicker training a chick.

My 9 weeks old seem to understand the concept better than my 7 weeks old. Then again, she is alpha and doesn't let the other chick peck the target a lot.

Also, nothing said you have to use a cup. You can hand treat if you want. However, I notice that my guys aren't as gentle about taking treats out of my hands anymore and boy does it hurt.

And as for the reward. They have to be a little bit hungry before they will take food from you or a cup. Or you have to find something they REALLY like. My chicks will kill for millets ,therefore, I will only give them millets when I'm clicker training.

 

[GatorBunny]

I wanted to use a cup because a) it doesn't hurt yet but it well b) the feed tends to fall through my fingers and once the feed is on the ground they get distracted c) it's easier to manage a clicker and the feed at the same time with a clicker/cup combo. Just curious which type of cup you're using?

 

[gingerpeach22]

Gator, since I use commercial scratch as the treat, I waited until they were about eight weeks old and had had a chance to ingest commercial grit for their gizzards. On page two, you can see the little cup I use - was a measure in Slim Fast or something like that. I don't use my hand since I don't want to teach them to zero in on my hand all the time if I'm doing something else in the coop.

Today, I broke the above rule. Sat down on floor, legs out, flopped a cat harness down and let them get all suspicious and then all curious. I didn't use a clicker since I just want to accustom them to this thing as it gets moved around, flopped in any old way, and then stroked along them somewhere. For this exercise I had on a sweatshirt with a front kangaroo pocket in which there was scratch. I'd fish some out and when one worked up the courage to actually peck the harness, I'd slip just a bit of scratch to it in my hand. This will cut down on the panic when I harness one of them the first time. It will take two people, so I have to wait for a friend. Tomorrow, I'll hang the leash here and there to let them get used to this long thing which swings in the breeze. The goal is to take one out of the run but keep it safe. Lots of people "walk" chickens in harness. It's probably like "walking" a cat. You just meander together or follow the animal, picking it up if necessary to go somewhere else.

Gentle Leader (brand) cat harness is what I have. Has bungee cord style leash.

 

[Orps]

Here is a video of the chicks progress

 

[gingerpeach22]

What fun you and your birds are having by jumping and touching a target. It really is about learning being a form of play with clear yes and no but not including any punishment. Positive reinforcement makes any food-oriented animal search for the right answer, often offering other ideas to see if they are on the right track. For that, they are not clicked or rewarded. My horse had true seeking behavior, often trying various things he had already learned with a clicker. Then I would make it more clear (easier) when he tried something which would lead to the correct answer if completed - incremental steps.Are they growing larger or is that lap shrinking?

 

[TallChickMagnet]

Is it possible to clicker train older birds, say one year olds?

 

[Orps]

Is it possible to clicker train older birds, say one year olds?

One year old isn't too old. I'm sure it is trainable