Handling chicks

[aart]

I just found it safe,and very unsureof what the punishment was

You say the strangest things.

i have no clue exactlty

Then maybe don't talk about it?

 

[ThePRfan]

You say the strangest things.
Then maybe don't talk about it?

Umm.........

 

[ThePRfan]

I'm not sure if I should take that in offense or not....

 

[RumAndCoconuts]

I've raised several broods of chicks in the house and always try to be as hands on as I can, we only have chickens so other animals aren't an issue. I have always found though that the older they'd get the friendlier they get, even in the case of our last ones, they were four weeks old when we left to go away Christmas and were gone for a month, we were so busy before leaving that I didn't have much time to spend with them then. The people who were house sitting fed them and nothing more, but since returning and spending more time with them even just sitting they are as friendly as can be. Maybe they are learning from my other chooks who fight for a spot in my lap, who knows? but being able to have chickens that are as friendly as kittens is hugely important to me and part of my chicken therapy every day,
Love them and they love you back

 

[Everett Kaser]

Regarding diseases and transmission, certainly birds can catch diseases from humans and other animals, and vice versa. Have you ever heard of "bird flu?" It's one of the most virulent and deadly forms of the flu. Why do you think it's called BIRD flu?

That said, there's no reason to live in fear of disease transmission between your birds and yourself or your pets. But reasonable caution and awareness is... well, reasonable.

 

[kdolly87]

Regarding diseases and transmission, certainly birds can catch diseases from humans and other animals, and vice versa.   Have you ever heard of "bird flu?"  It's one of the most virulent and deadly forms of the flu.  Why do you think it's called BIRD flu?

That said, there's no reason to live in fear of disease transmission between your birds and yourself or your pets.  But reasonable caution and awareness is... well, reasonable.

oh of course! Bird flu was a big concern in my town back when it was flashed all over the news. But we follow the general wash hands before and after and clean anything with bleach if they're out and poop on something.

 

[RumAndCoconuts]

I'm not sure if I should take that in offense or not....

It's never worth time nor effort to take offense. It just doesn't matter!

 

[TheTropix]

I wash my hands a LOT.. like I'm sure most of us do..or hope so! lol That's the main key. That said, like so many of the folks on here I handle my chicks a lot. I have several in the front bedroom right now. I've never lost a chick from handling it too much. They seem to enjoy getting rubbed on, especially when those itchy first feathers start coming in. I had one young pullet that when I picked her up, she'd spread her wings so I'd rub under them... scratching a chickens arm pits. Gee whiz! But the ones I've interacted with as chicks the most, were always the friendliest throughout their lives... except this 1 rooster. ggggrrrr but that's a different story! lol

 

[margkap]

I handled my chicks with the thought that they would respond better as they grew older. I didn't handle them often, perhaps once or twice a day. I didn't want to over-stress them (beaks open, looking as if they are panting). One of the chicks turned into a rooster and he loved hanging out with me on my lap outside during the summer time. He'd spread his wing to sunbathe and generally make himself very comfortable there for long stretches. Not so with the others. The people I gave my rooster to had roosters for over 20 years. They were used to being attacked by their roosters all the time when walking into the coop. Eggers, as I called him, did not do this. They attributed this to my 'hand-raising' of him. My chickens are quite aware of me, come when I walk out (they really are the biggest beggars on the surface of the earth) but it helps to take them out as they are trained.

So, handling I think is a good idea for small flocks especially in a suburban setting but it has to be done at the pace of the animal.

 

[azygous]

It's up to you how much you handle your chicks. Personally, I handle my chicks as much as I possibly can after I get them, giving them a day or so to settle into their brooder, of course. I would not advise letting toddlers handle the chicks, though, since they just don't understand that squeezing little chicks does not equal love. As long as children, adults too, wash their hands before and after handling chicks, disease need not be an issue to fear.

Chicks handled lovingly and frequently are absolutely more apt to grow up to be people-friendly and unafraid when people come into the run, as opposed to frightened and skittish when they see strangers.

I make it a routine to handle my baby chicks at least once a day for "lap-training" as I like to call it. They snuggle under my chin, or in the crook of my arm, later on perching on my computer screen while I'm on BYC. They almost all grow up to enjoy being lap-hens, and they continue to enjoy being hugged and cuddled. At the very least, if I need to handle them for any reason, I don't have to run them down and catch them.