My chicks hatched 2 weeks ago but unfortunately I had exams so I didn't have much time for socialising them. They are very skittish around me now and I was wondering If I can still get them to be tame. If you have any good ideas how to get them tamer please reply Thanks!
If you have them in a brooder, put some treats in your hand and slowly offer it to them. We use tiny bits of bread. Don't make any quick movements. Even at 2 weeks they are still young enough. If they are out in the coop, sit on the ground and offer the same treats. Eventually they'll be sitting in your lap.
I don't believe it's ever too late to tame them if you have the time and interest! Move slowly and predictably around them and bring food(lol). Sit still in their enclosure and become a feature for them to explore. When you want to touch them, try not to swoop your hand down from above like a Hawk, but reach in from the front and under the body as it is less threatening. When they are older start training them to come to the sound of shaken can of scratch(this takes about 2 days, lol). Have fun!!! They are smart and able to adapt their behavior to changes.
All of the above ... plus, with your index finger, tap gently at their feed, tap or scratch gently at new treats you out down, this mimics a mother hen pecking and scratching ... helps teach them like a mother hen would and for them it is a form of playing. Play a radio near by ... something soothing ... so they are used to the sound of human voices
Ours loved our finger tips dipped in yogurt! The first couple weeks they liked to look at us and we would hold them but once we started the treats they started to come running and if the door is open they jump right out and climb all over us! (so much so I can't open the door alone any more in fear too many escaping at once) hahaha!!
The very best way to socialize chicks, and also the quickest way, is to get them outdoors in their run and climb in there with them. It's already been pointed out that approaching them from a top access brooder is very frightening to chicks as it triggers their predator/prey response. When chicks can see all of you, it quiets this response because their focus is on things from a ground perspective. If you sit quietly with your chicks and allow them to explore you, they will get comfortable being handled in a very short order.
Usually, to tame them, I like to let my chicks fall asleep in my lap when they are young or just crawl over over me.
So true. Inside we have a front door instead of the top and they leap out to visit! Just started taking them outside and they love it!
