Quote:
from Forks, WA.
As for the chicks, congrats. To me, I've always been told when I had chicks to not handle them too much - But it turns out that a year later, the ones I handled the most were the tamest, most friendly of all my chickens! And they are Polish too, which are considered a flighty breed.
So, my advice to you, is to spend some amount of time with them every day. Don't scare them and be so pushy and hands-on, but try and get them used to your movement, your voice, and food being associated with you. I have a big brooder, so I like to even clear a spot where I can sit down with them, sprinkle some food over my legs, and let them crawl up onto me for food. It really does work, and over the weeks that they grow, I can get them to voluntarily step up onto my arm, hop onto my shoulders, eat from my hand, etc.
As for the chicks, congrats. To me, I've always been told when I had chicks to not handle them too much - But it turns out that a year later, the ones I handled the most were the tamest, most friendly of all my chickens! And they are Polish too, which are considered a flighty breed.
So, my advice to you, is to spend some amount of time with them every day. Don't scare them and be so pushy and hands-on, but try and get them used to your movement, your voice, and food being associated with you. I have a big brooder, so I like to even clear a spot where I can sit down with them, sprinkle some food over my legs, and let them crawl up onto me for food. It really does work, and over the weeks that they grow, I can get them to voluntarily step up onto my arm, hop onto my shoulders, eat from my hand, etc.