Handling baby chicks

[motochick]

ah, nice tip about the 1/2 gallon jug and nipples - I had just washed one out and have 5 nipples, and was wondering at what age they would take to it. Now I won't worry about and just do it when they get too big for the bin in the kitchen and put them in the bigger brooder cage/pen in the basement.

 

[tinychicky]

at about 2-7 weeks i've noticed chicks are a little jumpy while their feathers are coming in. they'll settle. until then just be calm around them and try not to grab them suddenly. my friendliest chickens weren't held too much between 2-7 weeks, but i spent plenty of time sitting near them, putting my hand in the brooder and talking quietly to them

 

[jmtcmkb]

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This is good to know. And from Hollis NH! I'm from the seacoast of NH

 

[SueBaby]

When ours were little and jumpy we made sure we only had out one at a time (or 2 if 2 people had time). We would sit on the floor with them and let them hop around. It was always pretty easy to scoop them back up- they think they want to see the world but then they get nervous and come back to what they know. We have young kids, so we had a rule that no one could run (or even walk) around when chicks were out. They seemed to like to fly and land on someone's shoulder or head. We had the best time when our chicks when they were little!

 

[jmtcmkb]

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I have to get daring, I am not taking them out for fear they would run off in the corner or behind the sofa, but I bet it wouldnt be the case. It's only me and my 10 year old who are really interested and she is very gentle, so I think we will try!

 

[azygous]

Regarding letting young chicks loose to romp and fearing not being able to get them back when you need to, it's no problem at all if you voice train them to come to you first.

It's so easy to do. Around two weeks, chicks are willing to begin to try new things to eat. Make sure, though, they have access to grit before you give them anything beyond their chick-grower. I find that earth worms are almost always a big hit. When presenting treats of any kind, do so while calling the chicks. I use "Babies!" You can use any word you wish or a clicker or a whistle - any signal that the chicks will directly associate with getting something wonderful to eat.

This training is usually accomplished in mere days, and it lasts for a long, long time. I used worms, and the chicks quickly took to them. Now that they're almost ten weeks old, all I need to do to get them all to run to me immediately is to holler, "Babies!" And there they all are, front and center!

This has proved invaluable when I need them to come out from under the coop where they love to hang out and it's impossible to fish them out, or for any reason. I've faced trying to catch unwilling chicks in the past before I wised up, and it was impossible short of, what has been suggested, throwing a net over them. If it's friendly, trusting chickens you want, I advise voice training them to come as opposed to the net.

 

[southdakota]

In this same vein, I have week old chicks...when I reach in to take the waterers out of the brooder, several of the chicks run up and peck my fingers. Is this just natural curiousity? aggression? The finger peckers are delaware pullet chicks...I have turkens and ameracaunas in there and none of them ever offer any finger pecking. Thank you.

 

[chookhead]

even talking tot hem while feeding them they will learn to know your voice and will come to u my current flock hear me from the other side of the yard and bolt at me funniest site watching the fastest australorp run lol she is huge and my other production breeds.

 

[chookhead]

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i am pretty sure its curiosity not aggression just do it 5 times in a row and eventually they will loose intrest in ur fingers lol

 

[NanaLantana]

If you're raising chicks, then you're the 'hen'. I found the chicks imprint very well on me if I carry them around in a pocket! Not a tight one, of course - Also, I made a zippered pocket bag, and will place a few chicks in that on my lap in the evening while I'm on the computer. I touch them, move them around inside the bag, ect. They love me, think I'm their mom! Then you have to train them outside as well. If you train them well, they will absolutely come when you call.