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

[Oblio13]

Quote:

 

[rebecca10782]

Actually, they have started to come when I call chick chick chick and clap my hands. Of course it is only because I always bring them yum
yums

Oatmeal, crickets, meal worms, droppings from my burrito, salad, etc....(spoiled brats)

They do actually eat from my hands sometimes. It's only when I try to pet them they run. The other problem is they are stressed out because our stupid chickens are chasing them around. Usually they just ignore them, but if they get to close they chase them. We were putting the little guys in the run during the day and the big guys out in the garden (they ate all our strawberries buy the way)

But the little guys have found their favorite spot on the composte heap under the ivy on the fence. So, when we are out there, we let them out to run and play. It made me very nervous at first, but they stay in their pack every minute. Even if there are two pairs in different spots of the yard, they all start skwaak skwaak skwaaaking. When they spot eachother, they run as quickly as their tiny legs will carry them (As in Pat's scenerio

)They are so happy digging around in the dirt. They had never been outside before we brought them home. They probably think the're in heaven

Even if they never become lap-chickens, at least I have my two cuddlebugs, Lucia and Coccolina

And of course my best cuddler, my service dog Gnocchi.

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[Reinbeau]

I've got one buff orp that climbs into my hand now - she's adorable! They're getting less scared of me, I just make sure to move slowly and talk to them. At least they don't all pile into the other end of the brooder in terror now!

 

[rebecca10782]

Yea, I purr at them and they seem to like that. They all stop chirping and cock their heads to look at me. I am sure they are thinking "What is this freak doing"?

 

[hcammack]

LOL don't worry my chicks were throwing themselves again boxes and trying to kill themselves even though I handled them daily ! now I have 5 lap chickens and even the ones I got at 6 weeks old are ridiculusly friendly he only ones that are still scared are my ameraucana's that I got at 22 weeks of age and about to lay so they are still a bit skitish but are coming around. I have found when they start to lay there is a major change in attitude.

Henry

 

[goatkeepers]

Mine kinda act the same way. I've been trying to sit with them every day for a bit and after a while they will come close and sometimes even eat out of my hand (which hurts, by the way! They seem to want to peck at my hand more than at the feed I have in it!

).

Your dog is precious! It looks like she's smiling in the picture!

 

[Davaroo]

Just do what Pat says (which is generally good advice, any time).

On a personal note, I dont get the whole Disney-esque, Bambi thing. "My chickens 'gotta be my bestest friend..." zip-a-dee-doo-da, Kumbaya etc.

They're chickens. They become accustomed to you, at best. This is especially so when you are the harbinger of food and treats.
They give the appearance of friendliness, when they don't perceive you as a threat (at least for the moment). Being chickens, they tend to perceive everything as a potential threat, however. Their loyalty is easily shaken.

All this is too complicated. I prefer to just let them be chickens.

 

[rooster0209]

On a personal note, I dont get the whole Disney-esque, Bambi thing. "My chickens 'gotta be my bestest friend..." zip-a-dee-doo-da, Kumbaya etc.

They're chickens. They become accustomed to you, at best. This is especially so when you are the harbinger of food and treats.
They give the appearance of friendliness, when they don't perceive you as a threat (at least for the moment). Being chickens, they tend to perceive everything as a potential threat, however. Their loyalty is easily shaken.

All this is too complicated. I prefer to just let them be chickens.

Thanks for that comment. My chicks freak out when I feed them, change the water...etc. Fly into the walls, pile on top of each other. I hatched them and have tried to make them tame, to no avail.

I guess they will just be chickens ........... and i will cuddle, snuggle and hold the dogs and cats (except Everette the ungrateful beast)​

 

[patandchickens]

I don't see what the

and

is with them coming to you primarily as a source of food. They are chickens, and that is what chickens care most about, and it is up to THEM whether they ever want more than that out of the relationship, right? If you *require* cuddling then honestly I would say that chickens are not the best pets since there's a whole lot of variability there. If you just want chickens, you may have to be flexible about your expectations, you know?

May I venture to guess that they would not run away when you try to pet them, if you did NOT try to pet them?

Seriously. Wait til this fall, try again. Let them get more settled in. Otherwise you're just ingraining the running-away habit. Later on, more mature and more used to you and the environment and the other chickens, they may decide they enjoy being touched. OTOH they may not. Everyone's entitled to their own personality.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[s6bee]

That is just the cutest picture with your dog. Is she/he smiling? Looks it. That's a keeper!