UN SCARING baby chickens

[speedbird]

The coop is also elevated to my waist level and has one door, but the chicks can run far enough so I can not catch them

I am also starting to loose hope and send them all to the farm, then buy 1 porciline d uccle, one silkie bantam and one other breed I liked but forgot what it was

But I will miss them if it comes to that!

 

[kitfoxdrvr]

That is totally normal. Even the calmest group goes crazy when one of their sisters starts bouncing around on their backs! ;-))

 

[orumpoultry]

They'll tame down. Offer treats. Talk to them. Be slow and easy.

 

[speedbird]

What type of treats should I give to 3 week olds? (btw, we are NOT giving them eggs!)

 

[3riverschick]

What type of treats should I give to 3 week olds? (btw, we are NOT giving them eggs!)

chopped dried mealworms. Chopped sprouted oats. Chopped earthworms. If you give them treats,
they need additional grit. Get chick sized grit. Just put a small dish in with them, they will eat
the grit as they need it.
Best,
Karen

 

[Chans Farm]

I'm pretty new at this, so I may just be lucky.

But, until we finish the chicken house / brooder (hopefully tomorrow), my chicks - 4 days old, are still in card board boxes.

When I walk up to them, they have already associated me with giving them food. So, they are stretching their little necks as far as they can, as though asking for their meals.

They do not seem scared at all.

Maybe it is how you initially began feeding them, that has them conditioned this way?

If so, I would find a word, or group of words to call out to them, shortly before opening the door to feed them. After a while, I imagine they will "forget" their fear fo you.

 

[fiddlebanshee]

My experience is that it varies greatly from one group to the other. Two years ago I had one group with very skittish ameraucanas, that made the entire group scared. That group still won't approach me for treats, and the one ameraucana that's left will not even come closer to me than about 6 ft. I have never been able to hold her or catch her for that matter.

The next year I had a group with anconas. Anconas are known to be skittish, but not these. They would climb on my hands as soon as I stuck them in the brooder. One of these is still very curious and wants to know everything I am doing. She is also the houdini chicken and manages to get out of any enclosure (I think she has a built in start trek transporter beam) and she'll show up at my feet whenever I am outside. She's also managed not to be eaten by any predator, which indicates to me she's a pretty smart chicken.

All the tips above are good but will take time. Treats are always a good bribe, but will not always work (f.i. with my ameraucanas it didn't work).

Good luck!

 

[SusanPC]

My 4 chicks are a bit over 4 weeks. They are very acclimated, but still scare and run away at any loud noise or strange event (like unrolling the hardware cloth top of their brooder). This seems instinctual and a good trait to have since they are way down on the food chain. They usually settle down in a minute or so and then they become curious and come around me to investigate. I have to keep reminding myself that they are not like mammals and not like other tropical bird breeds I've had. I'm torn between having them familiar with me, but not too bonded that they'll be trying to get in the house when they are moved into their coop (soon..!). I think bribing with food now and even as they get older can work and just familiarity with routine. I've tried to be a presence to them (interact and speak to them) and touch them and occasionally pick up and hold for short periods. I have two that are more interested in checking me out and two that are more stand-offish. Different people want different relationships with their chickens and should interact and treat their chickens as they hope to continue relating to them. It has been an amazing journey so far and I expect it will continue as they grow and keep changing.

 

[speedbird]

Where should I get "chick sized grit" and " meal worms?"

BTW, the reason I want them to like me, is that I am going to keep a few of them at home as pets.

 

[orumpoultry]

Do you have a locale TSC? They've got it all.