Why do my almost 5 week old chicks go berserk every time I reach into the brooder?

[tweetzone86]

A little background:

We're using a Little Tikes playhouse with windows and door holes taped shut (save one for light and ventilation) as our brooder outside right now. We handled the chicks a LOT while they were tiny, and still give feed, water, etc daily.

And yet, they go completely berserk every time I open the coop door (I do speak to let them know I'm coming in outside before I open the door). They LITERALLY start rushing around like I'm a coyote or something, climbing on top of each other, trying to get away- and every time one gets out they run away from us and it's a PITA to catch them. In order to change the bedding, I have to catch ALL 22 of them one at a time and put them in an empty plastic feed trough with shavings and feed and water with hardware cloth on top and it takes a half hour of ducking down and trying to catch them as they're going crazy inside the little house.

We're trying to build a second chicken coop today for them (10'x10') and I went to change the bedding while my husband was prepping the area and it took all four of us (hubby, myself, and both kids) to try and corral them long enough to clear the dang brooder so I can clean it (it needs it DESPERATELY).

Why on earth are they so flighty? You'd think I was trying to kill them! Barred Rock, SLW pullets and 2 New Hampshire Red cockerels.

Any way to stop them from going so ape***t every time I interact with them? Are there ANY treats (babycake suet cake) or anything I can give them to tame them to me? If I'm still long enough a few will eat out of my hand, but then the moment I move they go berserk again.

Help please! It's worse than trying to lasso cats every time I have to change their bedding!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They go berserk because they are a prey animal and you are big and scary.
Instinct tells them that you are trying to kill them.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

They are just startled by your big presence. They evolved to run away from things, so that’s what they are doing.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you have any bird netting, chicken wire, etc. lying around, plus some garden stakes, I would try installing a temporary "run" around the entire brooding unit (2' high should work) and open the door and let them run around while you do the cleaning. Just make sure to move slow and look around you as you step, so you don't squish one. Have the kids stand guard outside to hand you stuff if you need it, and in case any try to jump the fence. They'll instinctively want to return to the safety of the brooder once you're done, so hopefully won't have to wrangle too many in the end.

 

[tweetzone86]

If you have any bird netting, chicken wire, etc. lying around, plus some garden stakes, I would try installing a temporary "run" around the entire brooding unit (2' high should work) and open the door and let them run around while you do the cleaning. Just make sure to move slow and look around you as you step, so you don't squish one. Have the kids stand guard outside to hand you stuff if you need it, and in case any try to jump the fence. They'll instinctively want to return to the safety of the brooder once you're done, so hopefully won't have to wrangle too many in the end.

We tried, and apparently they can still squeeze through 2"x4" woven wire It was a nightmare, and one of them must have gotten a small cut on it, because after we'd put them in the old brooder (30"x4' tub) with two by fours holding hardware cloth over the top so we could clean the little house brooder (and were so exhausted from wrangling that we took a break then worked outside for a couple hours) the other chicks must have ganged up on her, because next thing we know the poor thing's back was plucked, as were several spots on her side, and her little tail was bleeding a bit

We had to isolate her in my "sick chicken kennel" inside the house we're building, and she tried to get through THOSE too (we put scrap boards securely propped up on all the sides, leaving a little space for air). I put her in there and showed her where feed and water were, and she refused to move (unless I stuck my hand in there, in which case she went nuts again). I think she was just scared to death at that point, and so we let her be for a while.

Apparently she's chirping like crazy now, so my husband and the girls gave her a little more light and are monitoring her right now. Poor thing! I had no idea they could still squeeze through those holes! (I had tried using hardware cloth but it fought back hard).

So now I have an injured chick on my hands (after we lost one at at a week old, the human girls can't take any more losses), all because I just tried to change the dang bedding!

Needless to say, hubby and I are going to be working on building the big coop (current one too small for my new arrivals and currently occupied by 9 hens that are MUCH bigger than the chicks are) throughout this week, with an actual run. Here's hoping that it will go a little easier then (and that the poor injured girl survives).

 

[Lilokieescorter]

Oh wow momma, I kinda had the same type of problem with chicks wanting to stick their heads through the 2" wire, (whenI ordered it I thought I'd got the 1") I finally found my 1" wire from Attwoods & added it as a double layer! May be an option. Ok, as for freaking out when you let them know you are coming in, it only took about 1-2 weeks for them to stop running away, I also have 6 keets in @ this time also. I used a small box to coax them to come towards me & pick them up & love on & talk to, would used food or treats "Ialso did this with my other chicks I have raised who are 10 & 12 weeks" (sunflower kernels or fruit of some sort) it took about another week & all of a sudden boom they would come on their own. I wish you the best of luck & prayers for your little injured chickie. Hope that what worked for me may help!

 

[rosemarythyme]

We tried, and apparently they can still squeeze through 2"x4" woven wire

Ack I'm sorry I wasn't more specific! I meant like lightweight bird netting that you'd throw over fruiting bushes, or standard chicken wire, which has holes small enough that they can't squirt through (especially with supervision). So sorry this happened, hope this little one will be fine after a little TLC.

 

[Justso]

Put a second chick in the sick bay with injured one. Make sure it's one that doesn't pick on injury chick.

 

[tweetzone86]

Oh wow momma, I kinda had the same type of problem with chicks wanting to stick their heads through the 2" wire, (whenI ordered it I thought I'd got the 1") I finally found my 1" wire from Attwoods & added it as a double layer! May be an option. Ok, as for freaking out when you let them know you are coming in, it only took about 1-2 weeks for them to stop running away, I also have 6 keets in @ this time also. I used a small box to coax them to come towards me & pick them up & love on & talk to, would used food or treats "Ialso did this with my other chicks I have raised who are 10 & 12 weeks" (sunflower kernels or fruit of some sort) it took about another week & all of a sudden boom they would come on their own. I wish you the best of luck & prayers for your little injured chickie. Hope that what worked for me may help!

Is it ok to give them fruit at 5 weeks old? I thought I shouldn't give them any treats until 12 weeks?

 

[tweetzone86]

Ack I'm sorry I wasn't more specific! I meant like lightweight bird netting that you'd throw over fruiting bushes, or standard chicken wire, which has holes small enough that they can't squirt through (especially with supervision). So sorry this happened, hope this little one will be fine after a little TLC.

She's eating and drinking, so hopefully she'll be ok Poor thing just needs her feathers to grow back in! She looks like she needs a saddle to cover the bare patches up right now.