When will they stop being afraid of me?

[LogCabinChicks]

Hi all! I'm new...as if you couldn't tell.

I have 6 chicks, they will be 3 weeks old on Tuesday. Everytime I reach into the brooder to change food/water or try to hold them, they freak out! They are extremely afraid of me. I talk sweet to them and try to handle them, but I don't want to stress them out anymore than they already seem! 4 of them are Leg Horns, 2 are Plymoth Rocks.

Thank you!!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

There is no magic age/time, but it will happen. Just go slow and be patient. How long have you had them? I know you said they are three weeks old, but I don't want to assume you've had them that whole time if it isn't the case.

 

[LogCabinChicks]

I have had them for two weeks. Picked them up from TSC when they were one week old.

 

[N&MSchroeder]

Welcome to the forum! My suggestion is just to be patient. Remember, chickens are naturally afraid of objects from above (a necessary part of survival in the open) so when you reach in they may be responding more to this instinct rather than to you. The best way to help them become comfortable with you is to get on their level. I always try to find a place where I can sit on the floor with them. It is fun to watch their fear turn to curiosity and most will come over to check you out. It also helps to have a few oats or other treats to hand out. They will be climbing all over you in no time.

 

[LogCabinChicks]

Thank you! It was funny, I noticed yesterday after I posted this that when I do reach in to give them some smushed hard boiled eggs they are curious and do approach me after first bolting to the other side of the brooder! They are not brave enough to eat out of my hand, but the paper plate is a big enough barrier. I will be patient then.

 

[JSossong]

I had a similar post a few weeks back, my chicks are 6 weeks old now. Someone on here told me that they noticed that the third week they are always super skittish, and they were right in my case! I kept hand feeding them treats and now they all run up to my hand whenever I put it in their pen. The more you're around them the more used to you they'll get. They even follow my dad now when we put them outside. Occasionally they still run into a corner when we approach them, hopefully that will change too. They're really comical creatures! Good luck, Im sure they'll get used to you soon!

 

[rc4u]

and never reach in from the top of them...always reachunder the chicks as they think over is a predator

 

[carnivore]

Hi all!  I'm new...as if you couldn't tell.  I have 6 chicks, they will be 3 weeks old on Tuesday.  Everytime I reach into the brooder to change food/water or try to hold them, they freak out!  They are extremely afraid of me.  I talk sweet to them and try to handle them, but I don't want to stress them out anymore than they already seem!  4 of them are Leg Horns, 2 are Plymoth Rocks.  

Thank you!!

Mine are 2 weeks old, and act the same. For the last 2 days, I take a handful of dried mealworms in my hand, and hold my hand flat to the floor at the other end of the brooder. After 2 or 3 minutes, greed replaces fear. One or two brave ones come check it out, then everybody else will follow. I had five perched on my hand this morning, and another six or seven trying to get there!

 

[spotsplus]

I've found the easiest way to tame a chick is to get them interested in a special treat that they really like. When you give them the treat say something to them the same way each time like "chick-chick-chick" and they get to know your voice and that it means good stuff. Try letting them eat it out of your hand. When they will eat out of your hand hold them and hand feed them. This has worked well for me

 

[carnivore]

Mine are 2 weeks old, and act the same. For the last 2 days, I take a handful of dried mealworms in my hand, and hold my hand flat to the floor at the other end of the brooder. After 2 or 3 minutes, greed replaces fear. One or two brave ones come check it out, then everybody else will follow. I had five perched on my hand this morning, and another six or seven trying to get there!

Took a couple pics this morning. First, the brave (or greedy) one......



Then, several more get interested.......




Then a couple more.....