Taming Chicks

[GuskHomestead]

My chicks are all super skittish. I handle them daily so I don’t understand why. They epically flip out if I even move. How do I get them to be friendly like everyone is saying theirs are?

 

[SilkieNation]

How are you handling them and how much time are you spending with them?

 

[GuskHomestead]

How are you handling them and how much time are you spending with them?

So I hold each chick for about 5-10 minutes a day or every other day in addition to handling for care (cleaning cage, booties). One chick in particular seems to actually want to be held. She slept on my chest for an hour. I also just hold my hand in the cage and let them explore me. They are in my living room so they see me all day.

 

[EmilyPosten]

Today was the second night for the chicks in our home. The first night they were downstairs. They were moved upstairs yesterday after we realized they wouldn't get the rest they needed when my four year old is pretending to be a dinosaur, my husband's motorcycles, ect. This morning they were not as skittish as before, but I don't know if that's due to the move upstairs or they are getting used to us. I have read and I was told for the first few days to limit the amount of time you handle them. I check and clean their vents twice a day, as well as clean poop out of the brooder several times a day. They come up to my hand when I put it down, but if they're not interested at the time then I leave them be. I do sit and talk to them quite a bit. I let them know I am there without overstaying my welcome. I figured in a few days I will start to hold them more. I don't know if I am doing the right thing, so I just pick up their behavior and body language

 

[Wetmorechick]

Hand feed them lots of treats! That has always helped me tame mine down, even the skittish breeds.

 

[RubelliteRose]

How old are your chicks? We have 5 3-week old chicks who are very friendly. However, due to a bully chick (they all get along fine now), we spent MANY hours next to the brooder monitoring the situation. They all started hopping on our legs whenever we opened the door to the dog crate brooder during their second week. We also have 3 chicks who are about a week and half old. They are just starting to become more friendly. One will hop on our legs for a few minutes, one is thinking about it and one isn't ready for friendship yet in spite of being handled multiple times each day. You may just need to give them more time

 

[SilkieNation]

So I hold each chick for about 5-10 minutes a day or every other day in addition to handling for care (cleaning cage, booties). One chick in particular seems to actually want to be held. She slept on my chest for an hour. I also just hold my hand in the cage and let them explore me. They are in my living room so they see me all day.

I always held mine cupped in a hand, and let them snuggle in the crook of my neck where I think they feel safer. I have a hen who is going on 9 yrs. and she still freaks a bit when I pick her up, unless I let her snuggle. I also played soothing music for them (who knows) and kept a towel or something covering part of their cage to give them a place to retreat (although, you have to be really careful about any heat source - depending on how you have them set up, this may not be something to do!).

Feeding texture appropriate treats by hand, absolutely - I'm going to admit here that I killed one of my first chicks (when I knew nothing about chickens) by feeding it a pine nut. What can I say...

GIve them time.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I would not hand feed them. Can cause unwanted behavior as they grow. Just give them time. And understand some chicks will never like being held. I have 7. One has hated being touched since the day we got her. Shes 10 weeks old now and still hates it. Just continue holding them, talk to them, and just be around them

 

[GuskHomestead]

How old are your chicks? We have 5 3-week old chicks who are very friendly. However, due to a bully chick (they all get along fine now), we spent MANY hours next to the brooder monitoring the situation. They all started hopping on our legs whenever we opened the door to the dog crate brooder during their second week. We also have 3 chicks who are about a week and half old. They are just starting to become more friendly. One will hop on our legs for a few minutes, one is thinking about it and one isn't ready for friendship yet in spite of being handled multiple times each day. You may just need to give them more time

The first batch is about 4-5 weeks I think and the second is maybe 3 weeks? I’m honestly not sure. Got them from tractor supply and Atwoods.

 

[bluemtnwmn]

Mine used to freak out too. I make sure to talk softly to them whenever I walk by the brooder and I did put my hand in their full of feed (not treats) for several days in a row. Just long enough to get to stop running away whenever I put my hand in the brooder.
They don't seem to like being picked up by putting a hand over their back/wings. Once I got them to stop running away from my hand, I started gently stroking their breast feathers and sliding my hand under their body to their legs. A little nudge on their legs this way now gets them to hop into my hand. Some like to be petted while others just like to be lifted up so they can look down at the world. Good luck with your chickies!