Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[dancing cloud]

Seeking advice please, on what I can do to persuade my two new baby girls (about 14 weeks old) that I am their friend? At the moment, as soon as I go in the run, they leg it for the nearest flower bed and cheep at me . Are there any particular food treats that are a hit with little ones?

 

I've tried scattering corn and tiny pieces of apple, which they waited till I left and then came out to view with great suspicion and much chatter between them, before trampling it into the mud . I've also spent hours sitting in the run, reading a book and ignoring them, and they would come out to sunbathe but then run away if I moved.

 

My big girl Angel has been very good with them - chased them a little to show she's the boss, but no completing the chase or actual violence. She's currently rattly and quarantined in my bedroom in a dog-crate while the antibiotics take effect, so this seems like a great opportunity to make friends with Myrtle and Marguerite while she's out of the way.

 

I'd dearly like the "Little Cheeps" to run towards me rather than run away, and any and all suggestions welcomed

Edited August 24, 2012 by Guest

[HennyPenny59]

Hi Dancing Cloud

 

Im new to chicken keeping ... 6 weeks in fact, but upon reading your post, I feel you have done everything you can.

 

The only suggestion I could make is to buy some dried mealworms, my lot will do absolutely anything for them. As nervous as they were when they first arrived, they just could not resist coming up to me and taking them from my hand, and that was the start of them becoming tame

[chucknette]

Hi

 

I have baby hens at the moment. When I sit in the garden for a cup of tea I take a small cup of garvo alfamix mixed with a few meal worms.

 

I drop a few handfulls near me and they come near to feed. Yesterday I actually got to stroke them. The y will eventually trust you. It took me about two weeks to get to touch them.

[good_egg]

my babies (7 to 12 weeks when I got them, now + 2 weeks to that) love mealworms. Had them eating out of my hand after 2 days and that was after being terrorised by my bigger girls. They still run away if I try and stroke them, but when I catch them they will then quite happily sit and eat while having a wee cuddle. Next step voluntary lap climbing! Good luck

[dancing cloud]

Sounds like small wriggly things might do the trick !

 

Not sure where I could get mealworms near here, but I do know where there's a good fishing shop I can get undyed maggots from and my convalescent rattling Angel might enjoy a few of those too.

 

Many thanks for the suggestions. I'll give the wrigglies a go and let you know how I get on - hopefully it'll be the start of something good !

[good_egg]

mine don't wriggle - purely dried!! You can order them on this website or I pick up emergency rations in tesco or dobbies where they sell them for wild birds.

[zakjon-98]

Live mealworms or maggots are definitely the way to tame them. Hens often calm down when if lay too and are easier to pick up so it should get better

[Luvachicken]

Repitition and time is the key. I've had my chicks since they were 6 weeks old and every night for the last 10 weeks I have given them a cuddle. They do seem to prefer cuddles together rather than individually but I haven't used any treats to do this. I think they look forward to their cuddle each night - I know I do

Lucie does still run away if I put my hand near but once she sees the other chick on my lap she soon jumps up.

Good Luck

[dancing cloud]

Wigglies work!

 

I bought a pint of undyed maggots yesterday and the little girls just can't resist them. Initially they viewed them (and me) with the usual suspicion but, as soon as they saw wriggling, they were out from under the bushes and chasing the maggots around. This morning, I showed them the tub, so they get used to the look of a container having something nice in it , and put a few on the ground and then offered them out of my hand. They won't yet take them from my hand and stood at the end of my fingers, waiting for the maggots to wriggle off onto the ground so they could grab them. Getting them to come that close is a huge step forward and Marguerite in particular looked like she will take them from my hand when she's a bit more confident. I think she's going to be the greedier girl, though Myrtle was certainly grabbing her share with gusto .

 

Many thanks for the suggestion - another triumph for Omleteer advice !

[zakjon-98]

They go crazy for them don't they? The thing I've found they go the craziest for is live crickets I have only given them once when I had some left over when I rehomed my tarantula but they went mad! Glad they are starting to get more friendly

[dancing cloud]

A true triumph, they both ate from my hand this morning . I didn't try touching them, just kept my hand still and let them eat. As predicted, Marguerite came first to grab maggots and Myrtle came when she saw she might miss out.

 

I'll just let them eat for a couple of days, then try stroking while they eat. So far, the only time I've managed to stroke them is when they're really sleepy at night, so a day-time cuddle would be lovely

[Egghead68]

Sounds like excellent progress!

[dancing cloud]

Even better today

 

They came to me to see what I'd got for them and ate out of my hands, and I got to stroke them ! Myrtle squeeked and ran away at first and then came back, Marguerite just let me stroke her gently while she ate.

 

I think we've found the way to baby girls' hearts . Thank you, Omleteers !

[Cheeky Chooky]

Awww

 

My lot will do anything for dried mealworms I couldn't handle them if they were alive Very brave of you to get maggots!