My chicks are 3 weeks today... I have their brooder in my bathroom and visit them all the time (no jokes please ) I hold them several times a day. I give them treats out of my hand.... and they still run away if I try to catch them to hold. Also I heard that Silkies and Polish's are sweethearts .... Mine are not! They are the most skittish of the bunch... What more can I do??? Or are some chicks going to be nicer than others? All of them DO know I'm the feeder. I'm in a quandary~ I also have a couple extra questions but at the moment I can't think of them!
It's very natural for young chicks to be afraid...they think your hands are a predator when you come down from above them or the side and their instinct kicks in to get away from you... As they get older and get use to your voice and motions it should be better...especially when they are not confined to a limited space....
Heya - My chicks did the same thing. They would go absolutely nuts in the brooder box when they were tiny if I came close to them at all. They are 9 weks old, now, and they get to run loose in the coop and chicken run. They are fine, now. Still slightly skittish, because I don't really handle them much, but one or two are pretty fearless. I think one of those is a roo - but he is beautiful, so he gets to stay, in spite of the roo to hen ratio that seems to happen here, LOL. I think it is probably just because they are so small, and more or less trapped in the (necesarily) little space they have and cannot "get away" from the big person coming at them. Peace - Meriah
Thank you all for your encouragement and experience~ I'll keep you posted about what our "let's get to know one another" time will be.
They sound normal to me...just give them treats by hand, talk to them and hold them a lot. My girls will be 9 weeks old tomorrow and a couple of them scream like you are killing them when you pick them up, two could care less either way hold or not hold they are happy and two jump on me demanding attention. Just takes time to trust "THE HAND" coming in from above.
Yeah, our Silkie is not that friendly... unless you have treats .... and he's an absolute idiot! LOL But we love him anyways
Your size is overwhelming for them try getting down to their level instead of picking them up, laying on the floor with them reduces the threat to them and you will be more approachable to them.fast moving hands grabbing at them also is intimidating, smooth relaxed motions are more pleasing to them and don't alert their natural defense instincts that result in skiddish behavior around you and ease the flight tendencies for the chicks.
I was wondering the same thing. My girls are 19 days old now and still run from me. I have even been catching them every day for the past week or so and putting them outside in their chick wagon... I guess that is still not enough attention for them... I'm guessing that it will get better once they start getting regular treats
do you have any kids around that can help you socialize the chicks? I am totally new to the chicken thing...but I have a child unit that has friends and they all love coming and holding chickens. Our chickens are about 10 weeks old and get held...like it or not...(kids love chickens) and most ours like people. Give them time and the ones that want to be with you will be with you...others I think like to do their own thing...let them do that...but my kids have helped get the chickens used to people. Nothing better then kids and chickens!!! this is our most unfriendly chicken
My polish are 6 wks , now that they are in their house and out of the brooder they are a little less nervous, I've found that if I just stand still (their home is at my chest level so we're kind of eye to eye) that they will come to me , I dont try to reach in and pick them up, when they were in the brooder a hand from above sent them over the edge , crashing into the walls and each other. I think that polish are a nervous breed to start with , with their limited vision .