I have used broodies to raise store bought chicks for years and as is typical with broody raised chicks they tend to be very wild. This year when my bantam hen went broody for the first time and laid a dozen eggs in the woods, I decided to have her hatch out some chicks and try to make them as tame as possible. Here is what I did:
1) Her nest/eggs were put in a cat carrier in the hen house and the day before the expected hatch date I moved the carrier into my kitchen. After hatch they stayed in the house for the first 3 days (in a 2x4 terrarium) during which time I made it a point to handle each chick 2-3 times a day.
2) Each chick had a different color code on their head from a Crayola marker so I could be sure to handle them all fairly equally and pay special attention to any shy/fearful chicks.
4) At 3 days they moved out to the "chick pen" in the main coop next to the flock.
5) Every night since then at bedtime in the hen house (when they are calm and sleepy) I bring them a treat and handle them again. They were too fast and hyper to handle outside during the day but at bedtime it was easy. Now that they are older I can pick them up even when they are free ranging outdoors without them running away.
At 11 weeks old they are the tamest chicks I have ever had! The last week or two they have become less glued to mom and much more affectionate with me including lots of purring and shoulder sitting, and recently some neck snuggling accompanied by "sweet nothings being wirbled into my ear". Three out of four are boys so I am planning their bachelor pad now. I am so in love with these little guys, think I will build a tall good sized pen for them with outdoor roosts up high and a lawn chair for me.
I am sure others have done this before but this was new to me so thought I would share.
1) Her nest/eggs were put in a cat carrier in the hen house and the day before the expected hatch date I moved the carrier into my kitchen. After hatch they stayed in the house for the first 3 days (in a 2x4 terrarium) during which time I made it a point to handle each chick 2-3 times a day.
2) Each chick had a different color code on their head from a Crayola marker so I could be sure to handle them all fairly equally and pay special attention to any shy/fearful chicks.
4) At 3 days they moved out to the "chick pen" in the main coop next to the flock.
5) Every night since then at bedtime in the hen house (when they are calm and sleepy) I bring them a treat and handle them again. They were too fast and hyper to handle outside during the day but at bedtime it was easy. Now that they are older I can pick them up even when they are free ranging outdoors without them running away.
At 11 weeks old they are the tamest chicks I have ever had! The last week or two they have become less glued to mom and much more affectionate with me including lots of purring and shoulder sitting, and recently some neck snuggling accompanied by "sweet nothings being wirbled into my ear". Three out of four are boys so I am planning their bachelor pad now. I am so in love with these little guys, think I will build a tall good sized pen for them with outdoor roosts up high and a lawn chair for me.
I am sure others have done this before but this was new to me so thought I would share.
