Taming Silkie chicks??? Help!!

[Stacyoung13]

My Silkies (18 weeks) have always been pretty skittish, and still are and we raised them from day old chicks (well, with their broody muma!) The roosters are not quite as scaredy as the female, she runs from most things! Terrified! And she has no reason to be, so I just let her be. All the other chickens come round eventually to me being food lady, some just take a bit longer than others.

My Polish however is on a whole nother level!! I have never seen such a scared chook!! It Runs and squawks and screams and runs!! And that pretty much is it's day! I'm hoping it will learn to chill or the poor thing will die of a heat attack!

Good luck with your Silkies.

My polish is just the opposite, she chases me down wanting loved on. My silkies are my babies too. They all come running when I call “hey babies”. What I did was after the first week, 7-8 times a day, reach my hand in the brooder with food in hand. That’s the only food that I put in there after the first week. During the first week I would just set my hand in the brooder, palm up, and leave it there not moving for about 5 min. 4-5 times a day. Like dogs, patience and repetition.

 

[L1sa]

My polish is just the opposite, she chases me down wanting loved on. My silkies are my babies too. They all come running when I call “hey babies”. What I did was after the first week, 7-8 times a day, reach my hand in the brooder with food in hand. That’s the only food that I put in there after the first week. During the first week I would just set my hand in the brooder, palm up, and leave it there not moving for about 5 min. 4-5 times a day. Like dogs, patience and repetition.

It's funny isn't it, how we all have the same breeds who act so differently. And we all have different ones who attach themselves to us! I have an Araucana who is the sweetest thing and will jump up on my lap and if I squat down she'll jump up on my shoulder, and I didn't do anything different with her, in fact she was in the same brood as my Silkies. They just have their own characters I guess. Love chickens! I'm just about to go to work! But I'd rather stay in the chicken coop!!!

 

[Broody Bist]

What I am suggesting is only feeding them an amount they will eat in a matter of minutes doing so many times during the day until they come to associate you with feed instead of unwanted handling. Once they start coming to you for the feed, then it will be time for first touching and perhaps eventually handling. Handling right now simply feeds their flight response. They have the normal responses of prey animals.

I guess I’ll have to try it, I’m really just kinda at a loss. We’ve raised quite a few batches of chicks in the house, none ever as flighty as these. Guess I’ll just have to wait it out.

 

[Broody Bist]

My polish is just the opposite, she chases me down wanting loved on. My silkies are my babies too. They all come running when I call “hey babies”. What I did was after the first week, 7-8 times a day, reach my hand in the brooder with food in hand. That’s the only food that I put in there after the first week. During the first week I would just set my hand in the brooder, palm up, and leave it there not moving for about 5 min. 4-5 times a day. Like dogs, patience and repetition.

That’s exactly what I say to mine every time I go over there
I’ve done it with all of our chicks, I just automatically say “hey babies!” whenever I see a little chick lol

 

[ChickNanny13]

Alot of patience ...

Depending how of the height of your brooder, approach slowly & no quick movements.
Let them come to you, sit next to your brooder, put some freeze dried mealworms in your hand, mash it some & hold it out in your palm, let them come to you.
When you "pick" them up; scoop them with your middle & ring finger from under/between their legs from the front to the back, so they'll be sitting in your palm & your pointer/baby finger is used to hold them.

For older chickens, get a step stool & some mealworms/BOSS ... Sit with them & sprinkle some goodies around you. They won't come but someone will get brave & start pecking. Every time you go to the coop, take some treats they will figure you're the one with the food & goodies.

I've spent many afternoons sitting in the coop just watching the girls, in time you'll be able to approach them more easily. My girls come running, there are time we still go through a short chase but all's forgotten after they get their maintenance work done.

thecreekhouse asked a similar question "How do I tame my baby chicks"

 

[Broody Bist]

Okay, calm down. Chickens hate change and do not tolerate it well. They have just been introduced into a new environment and first they need to adjust to that. Chicks/chickens are leery about being approached from above. It is best to approach young birds from the side on their level. The grass is most likely another 'new' thing to them. Once they adapt to their new home start feeding in small amounts multiple times during the day. Keep them just a bit hungry until they come to associate you with feed. Feed will win them over.

Hmm.. they pretty much have a full feed bowl 24/7. So you’re saying if I wait just a little longer to fill it back up it will make them more eager when I stick my hand back in there to fill it up?
Also, I have them in a homemade brooder with a lid so there’s really no way to approach them from the side.

 

[drumstick diva]

x2

 

[Broody Bist]

Thanks guys!

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

Aww, i feel your pain. we too got silkies because everyone says how tame and loving they are. Ours are skittish. it takes time to build a relationship. They are probably scared as the others said, to the change. And change in food also did not help my girls. Also, my silkies BARELY eat in comparison to the other brreds i have. AND they are twice as picky, lol. I moved the silkies to the living room so that they would get used to the noise, movement, and us. (the brooder was originally in the empty room) They are better, but do not wish to be handled. it does break my heart, but they LOVE to be spoken too and chat back. i ve had mine for 2 months. the more time i spend with them the more our relationship grows. someone gave me great advice...when handling them, do so from the front and very low so that they can see you. if you grab from behind or up high, they think predator. this helped me a lot. Also, mine scream when i grab them anyway. BUT they will sit for hours with me after that. god luck.

 

[Animals45]

Sit down with them and let them get used to you.