Handling chicks?

[LittleGals3]

I have not seen this answered anywhere and I'm still new to raising chicks (still waiting to pick them up on 2/3), so was curious if handling chicks to much can be harmful to the chicks... I have 3 girls and I can just imagine the "Mom can I hold one" question will be heard a million times around here once they arrive

I do know about salmonella and hand washing but other than that is if safe for the chicks to be held probably more than ocassionaly?

 

[felidaet]

It is good to handle them a lot. The more you handle them the friendlier they will be when they get older. He have a rule ion our house that if you touch the chickens you wash your hands afterwards.

We handled most of our chicks quite a bit last spring and they are very friendly. Even our White Leghorn is somewhat friendly. There were a couple we did not handle much because we heard they were very friendly (we focused our handling on the others). These ones turned out to not be very friendly. This year they will ALL get handled the same amount and probably will be handled more than last year.

Even if the kids accidentally drop one it will most likely be fine. Just watch that they don't squeeze the chicks too hard.

Have fun with your new chicks. I won't be get getting mine until early April.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

You can never handle them too much.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Yes, handle them a lot, they will be really friendly when they are older. (but don't be surprised if they go through an "unfriendly" phase before they start laying....mine did) Some, no matter what you do, will not be friendly.

My kids would hold them frequently. I would give them the chick and put it in the palm of their hand, then tell them to put the other hand lightly over their back. (they try to fly at a young age) My kids were quite good with the babies, just make sure they don't squeeze.

We also have a rule that if you touch the chicks/chickens you wash your hands.

 

[LittleGals3]

Wonderful!! The girls will love this news! I will definitely have the hand washing rule in full effect! Thanks so much!

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Handle- No squeezing or juggling!

 

[LittleGals3]

Quote:

 

[Uzuri]

I'd add the rule that if you're going to hold the chicks, you sit down, preferably on the floor.

That's just me, but my experience with little kids (and no, I don't have my own, I'm just much older than my siblings) has been that if you can get them to park their butts, they're more focused on what they're doing and less likely to drop/squeeze/put into orbit whatever they're holding. True of many adults, too

Other than that, chickies are a lot tougher than they look. They've got to be, if I can manage to raise them

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

My first baby chick I had at 3 years old, I dropped......... won't do details!

 

[RAWR]

handle them as much as posible it gets them to trust you and to love you