Best way to hold chicks??

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DebB11

DebB11

Chirping
8 Years
Mar 21, 2011
126
2
99
They are between 2-3 weeks old. I am afraid to hold them too firmly cause I don't wanna hurt them but when I don't, they flap their wings and are skittish....

My friend was over the week we got them and she was showing me how to clean a pasty butt one of them had, she held that chick firmly and the poor thing fussed and hollered.. I assume that is normal....afterall I am sure they don't like to be held like that...LOL

just wanna make sure I don't hurt them when I do hold them securely.

Thanks
 
I always go from under them with my middle and ring finger between the legs and lay my other hand over their back so they feel secure. It is a lot less scary for them for a hand to come under than to come from above
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This is our first time with chicks, but I have noticed we have quite a variety in the way they like to be held. Some are content sitting in your hand with the other hand lightly held over them, while others prefer just to sit on your lap. My daughters chick loves to sit in her shirt like a little kangaroo. I figure as long as no one is being hurt, then whatever keeps them comfortable and safe should be fine.
 
They really are tough, no kidding. Yep, they cry when you de-paste the butt. I like to hold min with their head sticking out of my palm at that age, so I circle the whole little body. Then to calm them, I cup them in both hands and leave a head hole near my thumbs and then of course I stick them under my neck and coo. Not kidding.......
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and then they will make the cutest little noise. I still hold my bigger babies 12 weeks like this and then love to tuck their heads under there and snuggle. But by that age, some birds are done with mamma cuddling them and want to part of it. As long as you don't squeeze them hard, they will be fine.
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IMHO, like this. They really seem to like it. A lot of times, the chicks will fall asleep if you hold them long enough.
 
Quote:
that's how i do it too I try to scoop them up from underneath and i have two or three that will step into my hand when i put it in the brooder
 
wistlindixie said:
81091_img_9229.jpg

IMHO, like this. They really seem to like it. A lot of times, the chicks will fall asleep if you hold them long enough.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Just tried this and several of the chicks were instant fans. A few more still need some practice (and so do I!), but it was definitely an improvement over before.

I was trying to do something similar (cradling their bodies and letting their legs hang) but I was coming from the side instead of the front and it didn't seem to work nearly as well.

FYI, mine are 5 day olds.
 

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