Stir Crazy in Brooder?

[MrsBrightSide]

So... I am completely new to this. Have 5 wyandottes approximately 3 weeks old in a brooder in my basement. I just used a large rubbermaid container like what is shown in the brooder section on this site and recently added a screen to cover most of the top so they can't fly out. They have all been doing really well with being held by us. All but one go pretty willingly into our hands and will relax while holding. All of the sudden, I went down today and they are freaking out. Every time I go to grab one they are scurrying and flying and once in my hands they are trying to fly away and chirping like mad. All that to say, just wondering if this is normal? Something like as they are getting bigger and want to fly they are just going to protest being held.... or should I be concerned that they don't have enough space or something. Thanks in advance

 

[gertpacu]

We had bought 8 chickens that were supposed to all be female, and there was one of them that wouldn't allow us to hold him, and he would scurry away (when in the box). Turned out he was a male.

When we had our first bunch it seemed as they got older they went a little stir crazy and wanted to get out. I think it's normal. They want to stretch their wings.

 

[MrsBrightSide]

Thank you for taking time to respond I know this question was probably a silly one. I tried to remove it after I got no responses as that seemed to indicate exactly what I thought... they are just being chickens lol. I couldn't figure out how to remove my post though... so thank you for your helpful response. Cheers!

 

[azygous]

No such thing as a silly question! Here's something you wouldn't have learned if you had removed your post. Wyandottes are typically a skittish breed, but it's normal for all chicks to become less compliant as they approach the three-week mark. Before that, most babies will permit you to handle them with little or no fuss.

You can minimize the skittishness by approaching them slowly on their level from the side. It's important not to give up at this age trying to tame them or else they will be impossible to handle as adults.

You can also gain their trust by sitting down on the ground and allowing them to climb and crawl on your legs and lap. Soon they will be working their way up to your head and shoulders. Entice them with meal worms. Use the same container and voice cue each time consistently and you will always be able to get them to come to you when you need to gather them up.

 

[UrbanChicks435]

Its not a silly question! This is the place to go for answers! But yes, the chicks are probably just stretching their wings. Normal chicken behavior.

 

[strawkleberry48]

Hi! I am a newby too I"ve got five teenage chicks. lol! They are going on 6 weeks old. I call them teenagers cause when they were younger they were good. Now they are rowdy and messy, so I call them teenagers. I have 2 wyandottes, 2 orphingtons, and 1 Sussex. This weekend we are going to put them in the coop so they can be rowdy out there! I hope they like it! Good luck with yours!!

 

[MrsBrightSide]

lol teenagers... I like it I have been taking mine out everyday in a makeshift play pen to get some sun and a bit more flying room. This has seemed to help a little. Hope the big move goes great and the chicks love their new spread

 

[MrsBrightSide]

Azygous Thanks so much! I have been putting the chicks in my lap now when we have holding time. They don't seem to want to stay very long lol but it is fun! I haven't gotten any meal worms yet... mainly because I haven't a clue what they are or where to buy them haha. But I will try your tip this week and hopefully get some form of a "call" down. I appreciate all the advice and great tips! Sounds like it will be very helpful in the future

 

[azygous]

You can get meal worms off the internet or at an aquarium store. But they're hideously expensive. I sprang $8 for my first 100, and then saved back 50 and began my own meal worm farm. There's a thread on how to grow your own on the Feeding and Watering Forum. They're super easy to grow, interesting, and fun. People think I'm kind up nuts because I have the plastic trays on a shelf in the living room beside the wood stove. It's warmest there, and they grow quickly when kept around 80 degrees F.

 

[slordaz]

I am re-establishing a flock, and about that time was when i put them out in the coop at a month old started to let them free range outside the coop and run under close supervision and started showing the dog what the perimeter was for them, now they are 3 weeks-3 months old they are pretty much free ranging all day with dog duck and cockrel watching them. They still like to test limits though. but now about 5-6 pm they bring themselves into the run and let us know they are ready for afternoon fermented feed , working with them still about putting themselves to bed, they would stay in the run if we would let them.

note as I am restablishing the flock don't have any older birds to teach them or bother them