Does anybody think that handling chicks makes friendlier in the long run. I know that each individual breed has it's own characteristic personality. Is there anyone who spends time doing this?
I put a lot of time handling my first batch of chicks and they never stopped acting like I wanted to eat them... until they were feathered and learned that the 'scary lady' usually had bread too. Now as adults they leap onto my lap and follow me around the yard. I am not sure if the handling made any difference. It seemed it was all about the bread. With my first incubated hatch I had the chicks imprint on me. They are strikingly more friendly than any I've ever had before. Very sweet.
I try to hande mine everyday for a few minutes at least but my americaunas just don't want alot of it but I got 3 of them when they were about 2 1/2 weeks old and got no handleing in the first couple weeks so they are shy. I have 5 Buff Orps and they were really friendly in the brooder and if I sit in the coop with them they will come up and let me pet them or on a really good day they will get in my lap. If they are outside though they do not want to be touched unless it is thier idea. I do have one buff that will come up to me and let me hold her alot, she is super sweet and I think she really enjoys it. I think that feeding them from my hand really helps to make them friendlier and trusting of me just as much.
Handling them lets them know that you are not going to hurt them and it does help make them friendlier. I spent time with all of my girls everyday.
I fell asleep the other day with a baby chick wrapped up against me. It fell asleep too. When I tried to put it back in the brooder, it started to complain vociferously. I wonder if they like human contact as much as we like having them.
I handle my chicks off and on everyday. My RIR, Americuana, and my other girl? (not sure what breed still) love to be in my lap. They are not big on the petting part or being held. But all three will crowd onto my lap or onto my shoulders. But I do have 2 tow week old Black Minorcas and they get on my lap and run around but they don't stay like the other ones and they don't follow me everywhere either.
For those who cuddle their chicks everyday, what do you do about poo? When mine were tiny and their poops were cute I laid with them on the couch watching TV. I put a paper towel under them and all was well. As they got bigger they didn't want to be still and they trailed their enormous liqui-poos all over my livingroom. Something I took with good humour for a while, but got a little old!
i know with the guineas i did this and they would all run to me in the yard, got to the point where they would follow me down the road when i went for a walk. hopefully the chickens will be as friendly but not follow me everywhere. a few of my chicks will come to eat from my hand but there is one wyandotte that always has to hop onto my hand and let me pet it. don't know if it is the one cockerel i bought, i just know its the same one because it has white feathers around its eyes.