Handling chicks?

[rubyjane]

first welcome

your going to love it here.i find this site to be very help full. i notice in your pic chicks were on news paper thats a no no it will make there legs spread as they can't get a grip on the slipery paper use shaveings it's much better and cleaner.it also keeps them dry. good luck

 

[Firstimer]

Thank you all! It's actually funny the picture was taken in the first 5 minutes of taking the chicks home and I have since covered the newspaper with paper towel for traction (read it on another post on this site).
The big waterer actually does have rocks in it, as you said, just in case!

But thank you for both your feedback I really appreciate any tips on making sure my chicks grow up strong and healthy!

S.

 

[pixie74943]

Oh it does too.. silly me

 

[Firstimer]

No! Not silly! I'm seriously glad that you cared enough to mention it!!! Thelma and Louise are glad too, because they know what an unexperienced owner I am

S.

 

[chickpeaz]

I just have to add I think that the phrase "Chicken Acquisition Mission" is the funniest thing ever. I am so stealing that.

It will amuse my husband and sister endlessly.

 

[wordgirl]

Our chicks, too, did NOT like being held very much, but we held them anyway.

I know – I don't like scaring them, either! They're getting a little better, though, and I'm pretty sure almost all chicks go through a skittish stage.

Enjoy your little ones! If they don't like cheerios (ours weren't so thrilled about them, either), you could try putting a little chick crumble in your hand and let them eat it. Our chicks are five weeks old now, and they all come over when they see crumble in my palm. I have to say, though, their little beaks peck a lot harder when they get a little older!

You're doing really well! You're going to be a wonderful chick parent!

 

[ging3rhoffman]

I made a big brooder out of cardboard boxes so i can sit in there with them with no trouble. I got mine to liking me by giving them "treat treats". Everytime I went down to the basement to see them i would say "treat treat" and they would come running up to me and it wasnt long before they were jumping up on my lap. I didnt start them on treat treats until they were 2 weeks old. They love luke warm oat meal. Dry tiny pieces of cool toast and hard boiled eggs, mashed up real well.

The 12 week old girls are outside now and when they see me comimg they start clucking and running towards me. Makes me feel so special.

 

[rymiddle]

Try to scoop them up from underneath so they aren't overshadowed by your hand. My chicks would climb all over my shoulders and on my head. Watch out for the poop though. They use to fly to my arm on command too. They aren't so interested in that anymore, but it's probably because I spend less time with them. I still hang out with them everyday though. You will have lot of fun. Good luck.

 

[Natty Bumppo]

I've been handling my week old chicks daily but I also spend a lot of time with my hand palm down resting on the floor of my brooder. These are my first chicks and I'm just a newbie, but I was thinking that if they get used to hand that's a good first step. After about 30 seconds they start climbing all over and pecking at my wedding band.

What curious little creatures they are

Now mind you I've never met a dinosaur before, but if I did I suspect it would act a lot like these here chicks. My wife tossed in a moth into the brooder the other night to see what would happen and started a riot turning these sweet little fluff balls into savage jurrasic killers. Ever since one will occasionally pick up a woodchip and run around chirping like a crazy chicken which is immediatly followed by another full scale riot. Too dang funny, but I gotta say I'd hate to meet a 15 foot chick in a dark alley