What's the best way to train chicks?

[cp2894_]

I'm a new chicken owner with 5 female (hopefully) 2-3 week old chicks. So far I've seen several different approaches on the right and wrong way to socialize them. I've seen people say to pick them up, don't pick them up, use treats from your hand, don't give them treats and only use starter feed, hold them a lot, only hold them once a day, etc. What are ya'll opinions on the best way to socialize young chicks? Especially when at least one of them are very skittish?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

My opinion is to handle them until their feathers start to come in. Then stop because it hurts them to picked up at that stage or is at least uncomfortable. I feed mine treats from my hand when they're fully feathered and outside and close to point of lay. That's it. I don't snuggle them. I don't pet them every day. And mine are friendly to me and fairly easy to catch because they know who brings the food. If you want them more friendly than that, spend more time sitting with them and if you want, holding them. But not all chickens like to be held. My speckled Sussex are my friendliest birds and I've had them longer than the rest but they just like to have a chat. They are always near me when I'm out doing things near their coop, chatting away, but they don't seem like they enjoy being held so I don't bother.

 

[Quirkyhouse]

I handle them often from day one making the same sound when I give treats. I also take them outside by day 3,which means picking them up. I try not to pick the up from the top,but reach from the bottom. They are 3 weeks now and seem to be getting the idea

 

[zenaghia]

My experience is the younger they are and the more you spend time with them, the more "tame" or friendly they will be. But each hen will be it's own. Some may end up as lap chickens and others never will be. If they show signs of hopping on my lap, I let them, otherwise hand feed, provide entertainment (dig up dirt and let them scratch for worms), etc and they'll follow. I ended up raising 3 chicks that were about 1 wk old when snowmageggon hit South Texas. I lost power for 4 days and had to use my body heat to keep chicks warm. I slept with them with a hand warmer and them on my chest. Those are now the sweetest hens I've ever had. They really do think I'm their mom or at least one of them. They will actually come in the house if I left the door open!

 

[gimmie birdies]

I have a friendly broody hen on chicks. She brings them up to me and they hop up and want me to pick them up.

 

[LordEvan5]

My experience is the younger they are and the more you spend time with them, the more "tame" or friendly they will be. But each hen will be it's own. Some may end up as lap chickens and others never will be. If they show signs of hopping on my lap, I let them, otherwise hand feed, provide entertainment (dig up dirt and let them scratch for worms), etc and they'll follow. I ended up raising 3 chicks that were about 1 wk old when snowmageggon hit South Texas. I lost power for 4 days and had to use my body heat to keep chicks warm. I slept with them with a hand warmer and them on my chest. Those are now the sweetest hens I've ever had. They really do think I'm their mom or at least one of them. They will actually come in the house if I left the door open!

I’m a big fan of holding and loving my chicks when they grow up they are friendly and biddable when come out of my door I have a chicken Hurd following me also I talk to them all the time