Will this stupid chick EVER come to like me?

[write2caroline]

I thought my chicks hated me - they were so skittish in the brooder but when I finally moved them to the coop and started giving them treats or bugs - well now they kind of like me and even sit in my lap sometimes.

Cal
Jax FL

 

[cmom]

I think she will eventually come around. Just keep doing what you're doing. She has been through a lot and chickens like routine. She will adjust but just needs more time. Changes in a chickens life will greatly effect them. As she becomes more used to you and her new home she should calm down.

 

[fiddleblue]

I don't know if this is of any help considering my chicks are a lot younger....but I noticed that whereas they squawk terribly when come to pick them up, and when they are held dangling from my hand, they calm down when I place them on a raised surface, like a chair, and put one hand on their breast/throat area and pet them there, and one hand on their rear to steady them. I think they like that their legs are on the ground and they do not resist me touching them as much this way. I have been trying to do this regularly with them since they were day olds.

 

[The Chickens' Maid]

I've found that, especially on a cold day, putting a chicken in your lap and covering it with your coat will put them to sleep. I do it with ours a lot; they almost always squawk and try to run away. When they are in my coat, though, they like to settle down and enjoy the warmth. It's also dark, so they associate it with safety.
Maybe this would work for your chicken, too?

 

[Madison Farms]

Hi Lil Chickie Mama, I'm in escalon too.

I have a little BR rooster who doesnt seem to be as small as a bantam but doesnt seem to be growing as big as they normally get either. He eats just as the others do. Its kind of weird sometimes. We got him from TSC during Chick days.

Let me know if you want a friend for her, We can hook you up!

Sounds like stress to me too. My flock loves grapes as treats and of course, watermelon.

Keep us updated!

 

[Lil Chickie Mama]

Well, I tried to see what she would do with my older flock, yes I know it's early, but I'm impatient and she didn't seem sickly at all, if I catch flack for it, so be it. One day I had just her and my 2 female bantams and the bantams who I thought were scaredy cats were MEAN so I separated them. BTW the bantams are about half her size but she's still in the peeping phase. Yesterday I was trying to put her with a few of my girls but a few boys snuck in and one grabbed a bunch of feathers

so I then shooed them all away and tried to comfort her but she freaked out.

Later I put her in the large run with one of the birds that I don't think can fly for some reason so she had stayed behind while the others flew away to free range. I locked everyone else out and there was a few moments of picking and pecking but there was plenty of room to escape. I let in the rest of the pullets 2 at a time and there was again a little P&P but not much. I was overjoyed though b/c I was sitting in there and I'd make a fuss when they started P&P at her and even kinda growled and other various chicken noises and pointed at them. She started running under my legs so YAYAYAYAYAYAYYA she knows I'm safe! After about a half an hour one of the roos found something delicious and called to the ladies and they all flew out. She and the flightless one were looking at them like, "How did you DO that?!" She's back to being by herself as I don't dare try her with the boys yet, but when I get a free hour or so (if ever) I'm going to go in and clip wings so then I'll just kick the boys out and let her stay with the girls all day. Hope that works! Oh, I tried to give her treats but she must think I'm trying to poison her.