still scared of me!?

[MikaRoo]

my 2 week old chicks still run from my hand and 1/2 of them are scared while I hold them! I go talk to them atleast 8 times a day. If I get in the box with them some will eat out of my hand but mostly they are running away. When do they become social or am I doing it wrong?

 

[Fred's Hens]

They are supposed to be. It is their self preservation instincts. Trust me. When they are older? They'll be so friendly as to trip you and be under foot, you won't be able to move!!!! Give it time. Let nature take its course.

 

[SIMPleChick]

I agree. I have noticed the difference between the older and younger chicks I have. There are some babies that love to be held and others I have to spend 5 minutes trying to "kindly" catch! LOL! BUT when they get older...like my 7 week olds, they let me hold then with one hand under their belly with their legs hanging and they like to talk to you! Can't wait to see how much more friendlier they get as time goes on!

 

[kandooshe]

sometimes depends on the breed

 

[The Funky Chicken Dunce]

Some of my chicks were like this too when I got them, most got over it but for some reason all of the Wyondottes just never got any friendlier

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Chicks go thru stages. Right now - your chicks are at the age they have realized they are FOOD and everyone loves chicken. So they run to save themselves. Loud noises, quick movement, shadows moving across the brooder - all things to trigger flight.


Move slowly - very slow. Leave your hand in the brooder until they come forward to check it out - do not move it. Chicks are also naturally attracted to natural nails, so show them your finger tips to entice them over. Talk gently to them.



I recently read that chickens process images much, much faster than the human eye. What we see as a blur - they see as regular motion. This "fast" sight allows them to see predators when they first start to rush forward. Slow is always better around chickens.

 

[TwoCrows]

Just stick to your guns and keep handling them. My 4 Australorps just turned 4 weeks old and they have finally figured out that I am not out to eat them! Most of the time they don't mind being picked up or handled, but they still have their moments and scream bloody murder when I do.

I like to put my arms inside the brooder a lot so that they can jump up on my wrists and arms. They will get really used to you this way. Also a small treat once or twice a day works wonders to keep them unafraid of your hands. My babies attack my hands all the time thinking I have a snack for them

They will come around. Just keep at it.

 

[f8thnjc]

Quote:
Funny.

Mine act the same way (1 week old). Glad to hear they lighten up as they get older. I thought we were doing something wrong. All the chickens we have had, we have gotten as adult. They are all friendly. Our chicks now run from us like we are going to kill them. I thought they came out seeing you as Mama...not so.

 

[dbounds10]

As long as you can give them grit....treats once in a while work wonders. Mine are 4.5 weeks old now and they follow me everywhere and fly out of the brooder to my lap when I open the door.

 

[McClellan_Coop]

I know how u feel. My 2week old chicks were doing the same thing. I started leaving my hand in the crate tapping it on the wood finally one came to me I was so excited. (This just happened today) It's m first flock of chicks I was raised around them all my life. My grandparents raised them. My grandfather passed away and one of my best memories with him were helping him with the chickens. So here I am starting to raise my first flock hoping my son will enjoy them as well as I did growing up..