Taming Chicks

[Waz]

How do i grow my chicks up to be tame and not be so scared of me the whole time. About 9 months ago i hatched some bantams and i handled them regularly and they didn't seem to enjoy being held so i would put them back. When they came of heat and went outside every time i went near the cage to do drink or food or even let free range they would get all cross and run to the furthest part of the cage.

Can someone help me how to make them tame from chicks so they are lovely tame birds when older.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Id offer treats everytime you walk into the run. Eventually they should begin to associate you as the person with the treats. Let them come to you. It sometimes has something to do with breed temperment as well. I have golden comets and they are very social birds.

 

[SueT]

Don't grab them or pick them up, let them come to your hand, let them walk on it and know it as a source for treats. Arrange it so you reach in from the side, not from above. This makes a huge difference.
My hens are all friendly and come when called, but they don't actually like to be picked up.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I find that some may be friendly or curious but most do not want touched.

I learned to just enjoy having them near if they chose to be near me.

Digging in my garden usually draws several that want to see if I dug up anything interesting.

They are after all a prey animal that everything wants to eat. It is normal for them to be a bit scared.

 

[Rockporters]

I handle the chicks daily. Every single one, even if they aren’t crazy about it. I sometimes entice them in with treats, often enough that it encourages them to at least pop over towards me to see what I have.. even if I don’t have anything. Pick them up from underneath. Pet their backs, not their heads.

Now that they’re a bit older I take them into the fenced garden with me. The 8 week olds never wander far, and they often check in On me often. The 5 week olds (2 Polish and a NN) aren’t as attached to me unless scared or shaken up. At those times, they will come running and hide behind, under, or on me.

I think breed plays a part too. My buff Orpington is a total lap chicken.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

How do i grow my chicks up to be tame and not be so scared of me the whole time. About 9 months ago i hatched some bantams and i handled them regularly and they didn't seem to enjoy being held so i would put them back. When they came of heat and went outside every time i went near the cage to do drink or food or even let free range they would get all cross and run to the furthest part of the cage.

Can someone help me how to make them tame from chicks so they are lovely tame birds when older.

Give them treats and spend a lot of time inside their living area with them. That’s what I do, I am in their area probably five or six times a day and I just tidy things up and pick up the poop so they are used to me being in there all the time. I have eight chickens of different breeds and not all of them are really super friendly. I have two that are a bit afraid, but as time goes on they are really warming up. They are just a year old. They all eat out of my hands and come running up to me calling out whenever they see me, but two of mine don’t like being picked up. Don’t worry too much about it, over the years they will tame up and become the chickens you want them to be We are just so much bigger than them and so it is just natural that they are afraid.

 

[Chickassan]

Bribery, and patience. Live mealworms are the number one bribe once you get them hooked they're good with raisins, little fruit bits etc...but always start with the good stuff.
The brooder makes a big difference too. I put the kids in a pop up dog playpen so they can see everything! It gets set up on floor level which is a no-no with most brooders, the pen is fine though.
They see all of their human that way, how big and how it moves so they aren't afraid. Only drawback is tiny chicks under your feet , they'll run close just like you're the mom so watch your step if you brood like me.

 

[Waz]

what do you give 1 week olds for treats....
the trouble with gettting in the brooder is that mine is a wooden carrier crate so is only as big as a pallet and so i can;t easily get in.

 

[Chickassan]

First some grit and then live mealworms, they are big enough at that age so they can eat them.
I don't get inside my brooder, but when I take the chicks out they're not freaking out just waiting for "mom" to lead them somewhere cool with nice stuff to eat. Those windows are all you need, they just need to see the entirety of you.

what do you give 1 week olds for treats....
the trouble with gettting in the brooder is that mine is a wooden carrier crate so is only as big as a pallet and so i can;t easily get in.

 

[Waz]

will dead mealworms do as i have tonnes of them....my chicks just squeak and shout at you until you put them down.....they can see me when i stand over the cage alright.....