Chick Stress

[Bantimna]

If I bring home chicks at about 1 w/k - 3 w/k olds and put them in the brooder, How long must I wait until they are stable enough to be handled? I'm really worried b/c I witnested a chick that died in my hands b/c of a stressful situation. (Our Dobie had been chasing him around).

 

[elmo]

You can handle chicks from day one, just not so much that it interferes with their staying warm enough, eating and drinking. They'll let you know if they're not comfortable by peeping loudly. I make a sort of tent with my hands (one over, one under), it's warm, and our chicks like that.

That's not going to be stress comparable to being chased by a Doberman (yikes!).