Do your chicks let you pet them??? (PICS ADDED POST 1)

2 blue marans love to have their necks rubbed, so does 1 black copper. The duck climbs on my lap and tries to hug me. The other dozen or so could care less if I touch them, but they don't like being picked up!
 
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Awwww i would love to have a duck like that. Mine get put outside at a week old. (Obviously not in the winter... which i dont have ducks around then)... So i dont get much time with them
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I take them out one at a time and put them on top of the brooder and they let me pet them and play with them. They seem shy with the others around but one-on-one they like it, especially rubbing their little chests and the backs of their necks. The other thing I do is reach into the brooder palm up with my fingers spread and they will walk over and into my hand so their feet dangle. I think the best thing I did was making a brooder with a sliding door on the front so I approach them on their level instead of the big hand reaching in over their heads.
 
Our chicks are about 2 weeks old, still in the brooder, and they freak out when I open up the top. I've found if I reach my hand in and lower it below their chest level, they aren't as scared about being picked up - vs from the top (they completely freak out). The Maran chicks are incredibly timid, but the Plymouth Rock, Orpie and Orpi/Rhodie mix chicks are a bit calmer and appreciates being rubbed, pushing her head up into my hand. The Orpie/Rhodie mix actually took a nap on our basset hound.

I do wish they were calmer, though
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I have about 7 of 38 of the five week olds that will jump up onto my lap and settle down on my arm to be petted. But it started when they found food up there (pieces of bread)

now, even if there isn't bread, they enjoy being stroked. two Ameraucana X Leghorns, 3 Wheaten roos, a BW roo and a GC Marans pullet
 
Mine were running, screaming, feathered freaks and I handled them all the time. I was absolutely amazed when at 16 weeks one of them (Bossy) finally settled down enough to let me pat her.
 
When mine were chicks they all liked to be pet and would just sit there. Actualy all but one of my EE so was ans still is crazy when you try to touch her.
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Part of it is how much effort you put in and part of it is the individual bird. I have a group that were all brooded together and handled the same. They have varying degrees of friendliness. Some like to be near me, but not to be petted. Then at the other extreme is Blueberry who has a fit if I don't pick her up and cuddle her when I'm outside. Yes, she's a brat.
 

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