Handling New Chicks

[TheUrbanUndertaking]

Hello! I just brought my chicks home Monday, so they’re 4 days old now. They’re going to be pets (6 of them) and I’ve done hours and hours of research trying to make sure I get them acclimated as best I can so they’ll be confident and friendly as adults. Now the real thing is a little different.

They’ve been amazing, but as someone new to this, I’m definitely starting to overthink things. The past few days, I’ve gently picked them up and held them close to my chest. Each of them falls asleep when it’s their turn. Today, I have one that is just not having it. She’ll be fine for a bit, then try to bolt. I carefully try to calm her down before gently returning her to the brooder, but I’m starting to get concerned I’m not handling them properly.

I can put my hand in the brooder without them scattering, can gently pet them as they meander, and they love getting food from my hand. I have a tall brooder, so I’ve started to lift them from below more, and that helps, but the initial panic of my one chick just has me rethinking my tactics (it’s also incited a lot of Googling).

How much is too much handling? Or is this part of the process? I give them breaks when they’re under the brooder so they can nap uninterrupted, and sometimes I just offer food and pets and don’t pick them up. I keep the intervals short. I’m also planning on setting up a pen so I can get more on their level and they don’t have to be held to interact now that they’re moving around more.

Any suggestions? I just don’t want to traumatize them in my attempts to socialize them.

Thank you!

 

[Rose the Legbar]

Sometimes some birds just don’t like to be handled, it’s completely normal. Just even sitting by your birds and giving them snacks or scrambled egg will get them to trust you.

 

[TheUrbanUndertaking]

Sometimes some birds just don’t like to be handled, it’s completely normal. Just even sitting by your birds and giving them snacks or scrambled egg will get them to trust you.

Thank you!

 

[Artistickatt]

Did you come across specific info that guided you to how much you do interact with them. I may have several new chicks soon, and I am very worried about them imprinting on me. Like you, I want friendly, tame family members. Albeit living outside. This seems to be such a fine line.

 

[TheUrbanUndertaking]

Did you come across specific info that guided you to how much you do interact with them. I may have several new chicks soon, and I am very worried about them imprinting on me. Like you, I want friendly, tame family members. Albeit living outside. This seems to be such a fine line.

Oh, I know that worry! I didn’t find anything quite as specific as I was looking for after scouring the internet, but I did find this class really helpful: https://www.thefeatherbrain.com/mama-hens-guide

There is a small fee (at least when I signed up) but I thought it was well worth it to get some ideas on how to handle my girls. If you know the basics, you’ll do great, this just dove into some extras I didn’t see anywhere else (like bedding preferences, toy suggestions, and a trick on how to hold them when they’re stressed).

Like the other poster said, some of them just aren’t as cuddly, but you’ll discover their personalities day by day. After my new-chick-panic subsided a little, my general goal was to make sure I spent a good amount of time near the brooder talking to them so they'd be used to hearing my voice.

Three to four times a day, I'd take them out one by one, get to know them, and get familiar with handling them (this was my first batch of chicks), the first 2-3 days being the most important, and keeping those sessions calm and short.

We had one take a bad turn, and I sat on the couch with her under my chin for 3 whole days (starting when they were about 5 days old). I was worried the others would lose that socialization time, but we really wanted to do our best to save our sick girl. She ended up pulling through, and everyone is still friendly and very happy to get talked to and out of the brooder.

I also chose breeds that are known to be pretty calm and enjoy being around people. There's never a guarantee, but all of our chicks gather to see us and know our voices and when it's time to come out and stretch their legs. We got a Buff Orpington, Black Australorp, Speckled Sussex, Salmon Faverolle, Barred Rock, and a Fibro Easter Egger.

My best advice after going through it is that you're going to second-guess yourself a bit, no matter how much research you do, and it's totally normal. Just find a rhythm that works for you and listen to the chicks to figure out how often they're ready to be handled. Even feeding them from your hand is a great way to bond.

You're going to have a lot of fun, enjoy your chicks and best of luck!

And of course, have to post a few pictures of my girls during their early days

 

[Artistickatt]

And of course, have to post a few pictures of my girls during their early days

Ohh.. thank you for posting those. Ha! I hadn't realized I had asked a question outside of the peafowl forum (I love chickens too). I raised chickens about 30 years ago, but didn't worry about socialization then, or having them in a brooder. Right now, I have two peachicks (we lost a third last week ) and this is my first foray into raising Peacocks. The stress seems about the same, other than you are dealing with much more expensive birds. I love that you nursed your sick girl. I had our guy wrapped in a towel on my chest. He was 5 weeks. (pardon the nasty bruise on my chest; I was in a bad car accident two weeks ago and still recovering)