Handling Baby Chicks??

[hojo]

Okay I have a what I hope isn't to silly of a question.

Is it okay for us to handle the baby chicks as much as we want to?

I'd like to handle them more but have been "told" that it isn't good because of spreading germs to them, making them sick etc. Is this so?

I've always had other breeds of birds and handled them, why not a baby chick?

Do you handle your baby chicks a lot?

My kids want to hold them so much but I'm thinking to myself, well I don't know if it's okay for the chicks. (shrug) I want them to hold them to! Soooo let me know, I'd like to really know the answer to this one! Thanks

Here's a link to our babies, if you'd like to see them!

 

[fshinggrl]

My kids are 3. The first few days I tried not to stress the chicks. Washing hands afterwards is a must. We did limit how much they got to hold the chicks as this is a new experience for them and .. point blank.. they are three.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

For the first week I make sure that we wash our hands before and after handling them. I try not to bother them too much just for fun in the very beginning. Just feed, water, check conditions, close brooder.

 

[noitulover]

once they are 2-3 weeks old, it should be fine (as long as you wash hands before and after)

probably for the first week handling should be limited

good luck!

 

[crazycluck]

Make sure your children are sitting down and have a good grip on them! My daughter had 1 of our 4 day old chicks jump out of her hand on Sunday. Very bad ending.

 

[chickenguysmom]

I let my two DD handle quite a bit. They got their first chicks at about 5 yrs old and 7 yrs old. They did great.

 

[cmom]

I handled mine from day one so they would be used to handling. I washed my hands a lot.

 

[fargosmom]

I handled ours two or three times a day, for a few minutes, just to keep them used to being handled at all. They didn't really seem to like it, but they put up with it, and now that they're nearly 6 months old two of them have finally decided that cuddling is ok. Yay!!
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