What am I going to do with my chicks? I can't tame them!

Some breeds are friendlier than others. Some chickens are more skiddish (spelling?). They may or may not calm down, but will learn to come to the feed, it will take some time for everyone to settle down.

 

Just be patient and keep handling them, I think.

We've raised two batches of chicks the same way--- with constant handling--- and the first batch was super-tame; the second not so much at first. Also they kind of go through phases. The skittish chicks have really started to calm down now that they're about 12 weeks old. So just hang in there and keep handling them. Hold them firmly with your hand over their wings so they can't flap and struggle and get away.... pet them... I think eventually they will gentle for you.......

 

there's another recent thread on this same topic here for some thoughts and ideas on your situation.

 

I have a similar problem myself. We just picked up 2 standard partridge cochins from a critter exchange, They are about a month old. I brought them home and quarentined them in the garage where i have 5 other 3 week old babies with their mama in a seperate pen. I talk to these babies every night and whistle them lullabys. They hate being handled and dont like any treats i have given them but they do let me pet them a bit now and when i pick them up they fuss a bit but quickly calm down and just sit in my hand. I have realized from the first batch of chicks we got a year ago that the more time you spend interacting with them the more comfortable they get with you. Sometimes it takes awhile but well worth it in the end. Best of luck to you

 

Just give them time. I have my original 6 chickens in with 5 i adopted from a fellow member. My 6 are extremely friendly, jump on my shoulders, love to sit in my lap. the new 5 were skittish, screamed when I picked them up, can't wait to get away....u know
but over the last 2-3 weeks they have grown increasingly calm and friendly. I give them their space and they are getting used to human interaction. They will now peck at the rivets on my jeans, come over to me when I sit quietly. I don't know if they will ever be as friendly as my first chicks but they're beautiful, and they are coming along.

 

Well, they don't sound that bad to me; it's not like they're hysterically flinging themselves against the coop walls whenever they see you, or anything. They just aren't Walt Disney type lap chickens, is all

Just get a folding chair, ok?, and a good book, and a container of feed. If you need to you could take their actual feeder away for a couple hrs before you do this, but probably they will be motivated enough without that.

Go out to the coop. Set up the chair. Wait til they are watching you, then scatter some feed on the ground near you. (If you're inside the coop and the feed would get lost in the bedding, scatter it on a plate or a leftover cut of plywood or something). Now read the book and ignore the chickens.

Do this at least once a day, every day, for at least 30-45 minutes at a time (more is better if you have the time). When they start coming right over for food and either ignoring you or being interested in you, DON'T try to pet them, but you can start sprinkling some of the food on or around your feet.

It may well be that they are not destined to be the kind of lap-chickens that will race across the yard when they see you, in slow motion, artistically backlit, and fling themselves into your arms with exclamations of chickenly ecstasy. <shrug> They have whatever personality they have. As long as they are not actively afraid of you, and will come over when you have food to offer, and you can (eventually) catch them when you really have to, I am not sure it is fair to *demand* any more of that from a chicken.

But you know, if you keep up with the lawn-chair-and-book routine and don't try to grab at them, I bet you will eventually find them occasionally hopping up on you, if only to see what it's like or because you're eating something yummy

Good luck,

Pat

 

Quote:Well said Pat! Mine weren't Disney snuggle bugs either as chicks, but as grownups, they're almost affectionate.

Just give them time.

 

From the time mine were little I threw a handful of feed into the brooder and kept a little on my finders every time I went to pick them up. They pretty quickly calmed down and dot used to being handled. At this point, they are pretty tame.