Handling older chicks?

[Dahlisgrams]

An update and another thanks to those who offered suggestions. After having chickens for a week, I can honestly say that I do not really want them to be pets in the usual sense. I have the cats for that! While I will care for them and provide for their needs, I think meal worm treats will basically be used to condition them to return to their coop after free ranging once they are mature enough to do so. I picked up one of the girls last night to examine a small wound and it was no big deal. They are not jumping all over me but I can catch them when I need to without incident. The fear factor is significantly reduced now that they have a larger area and that was my goal all along. The lack of handling attempts and just paying attention to the chicks has been helpful in their settling in. So has not overthinking it!!

I really wish that it had been possible to have the coop ready when they arrived but this time of year, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. DH changed things on me a few times in regards to the coop and he ultimately decided to purchase rather than build the big coop as well. His schedule changed and he no longer has the time available to devote to the project and while I'm pretty handy, I cannot build it alone. It meant that the chicks had to be in the house for a few days longer than we'd originally planned, but in the future, I'm not sure they'll be in the house at all. They are chickens and it just strikes me as wrong and ridiculous every time I look at them! I really want them to just be chickens and that means living outside doing chicken things.

The small casserole dish works well with their water container standing inside it. No wet bedding since I added it. Their water is changed once per day. I do wash the textured heavy plastic boards beneath their roosts whenever it gets really dirty since it's in our home at the moment, but in general, I don't think a little poop is going to hurt a chicken. While I am new to chickens, I am not at all new to raising livestock and have always believed that the more natural the better. I think I've come to my senses in this regard. LOL!

The big coop will be here in two weeks or so and then the work on the much larger main run can begin. The small coop will be ready for their occupancy tomorrow evening. I've spent several days chicken wiring the chain link dog run and have the cuts to prove it! For their safety, I will secure the top with a tarp until the aviary net arrives due to the presence of hawks in our area. The small coop is inside this pen. It will be secure with sturdy latches and will be up off the ground so that it does not take away any square footage from the pen. Having it off the ground will provide them with some summer shade as well. I cannot wait to get them outside!! The pan beneath the coop will have sweet pdz for easy cleaning. I want to keep the smell down as a respectful gesture to the neighbors whose property is approximately fifteen feet away from the coops and down wind from ours most of the time. I will post photos when it's finished. Thanks again for the tips.

 

[n8ivetxn]

 

[Dahlisgrams]

What a difference it makes having them outside!

This is their third night in the coop and they're climbing right in at sun down. They have access to their run all day but are locked in at night. They're so much more relaxed and seem happy. I realize that they don't have human emotions but they really seem content. The pecking order is still being settled and it's really funny to watch the antics. We set up a chicken observation bench outside the run and I've enjoyed coffee there several times. They always come right up to the fence to say hello. So far we've given them some lettuce and mesclun from the garden and they eat it readily and have been enjoying the bugs as well.

Now if they'd lay some eggs!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Oh, I don't know if they have emotions for certain, but I rather think they do. Do they feel fear? That's obvious, anger? Seems they do, they certainly like many things and I think my broody loves her chicks..why can't they have feelings? Certainly they don't reason them out, and they respond to instinct where most people don't. Can't they form bonds of friendship based on what? Why do two pair up when they are all chickens? I know they show curiosity...and of all the animals, chickens look you right in the eye to see what you are about. They of course are chickens and don't have huge brains with complex ideas but I think they do have base emotions and can tell friend from foe.

 

[GardenGal]

Chickens for sure have emotions, friendliness, loyalty, trust, fear, loss, jealousy, pleasure. That's not anthropomorphising, that's just observing. For daily examples just go to the Pictures and Stories thread.

I've never had day old chicks, but our chickens seemed to get really friendly toward me once they started laying. Before that one was pretty friendly, but now they all follow me around and "talk" to me, come when I call. Actually, they're way better trained than the dogs! To say nothing of the cat

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I think trust has alot to do with it. Naturally fearful of everything they can learn who you are and act accordingly. They just don't rationalize their actions and emotions.

 

[Dahlisgrams]

Chickens for sure have emotions, friendliness, loyalty, trust, fear, loss, jealousy, pleasure. That's not anthropomorphising, that's just observing. For daily examples just go to the Pictures and Stories thread.

I've never had day old chicks, but our chickens seemed to get really friendly toward me once they started laying. Before that one was pretty friendly, but now they all follow me around and "talk" to me, come when I call. Actually, they're way better trained than the dogs! To say nothing of the cat

I will definitely check out that thread. Thanks!

We are so looking forward to eggs! They look at our cat like he's an alien or something.

Achickenwrangler, I agree that they can tell friend from foe. You're right about the lack of complex thoughts, but they don't seem dumb to me at all.

I think I'm just trying to avoid "humanizing" them. They really do seem to have formed bonds and the silvers hang out together and the blue Ameraucana pullet really seems to derive security from the older Black Copper Marans pullet. Chicken math!!! In fact, the Marans (Zephyrine is her name) seems to enjoy protecting the little bantams from Bossy Boots the big Lavender Ameraucana who wants nothing more than to rule the roost. Zephyrine is about 5 months old and has such a wonderful mellow vibe about her. She is kind to the younger chicks and is very friendly with us through the fence especially and seems to enjoy having conversation. She'll come over and sit down in front of the fence and just listen when I tell her how pretty and sweet she is. Trust is earned and I agree, it does seem to play a huge role in how they respond. They are learning that I am safe and that I am the one who feeds them and provides fresh, clean water every day and this they seem to really appreciate.

It is so enjoyable to have these little critters in my care. Maybe it's just a woman thing, or maybe it's because my kids are all older but I just love them and really don't want anything to happen to them. It will be great to watch them free-range within our larger fenced yard once they've matured. I've learned so much from them already!

You've all helped me get over my new chicken raising jitters. Thanks a million!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

That's what we are here for! growing up the chickens were livestock, and my 'chore' and I was much more interested the the horses and foals...I never even realized what personalities they have! It may be difficult not to humanize them, but I don't feel in much danger of that, they are chickens with chicken needs, the more you have them though the more they will surprise you. I'm glad you are enjoying them, they like that.

 

[Ben Rogers]

My chicks are 3 weeks old. My kids and I make a point to hold them and talk to them and caress them frequently.

I currently have them in three separate cages--and we play with the 15 we intend to keep a lot more than the others.

I've noticed just in a few days a *big* difference in demeanor between the chicks in each cage. The chicks we play with not only are friendlier and calmer, but they also calm down to my voice a lot faster.

Generally, I'll walk into the garage and I'll start talking to them, "Hello, chicadees, how are you doing today?" I'll address them by name (if they have one) or "girlie". When I open their cage door, they are generaly clammoring to hop onto my hands and climb up to my shoulder. My most adventurous one (Val -- for "Valkyrie") has *flown* out of the cage and onto my head. I've been trying to put them away only to find that I'm "hosting" 5-6 chickens on me while I'm trying to stop the rest from getting out.

They still have their "skittishness" about sudden movements and sounds, but they run to me when they get scared, not away.

We sometimes take a chicken into the family room with us while we're watching movies in the evening. My three oldest daughters and I will all have a chick. They'll wander around, climbing on us, perching, sometimes roosting. It's almost a "competition" to see who can get the first chicken to sleep.

Oh, yes, they poo on us. We keep a roll of toilet paper and some lysol handy. And we're all getting pretty good at predicting when a chick is about to drop a paylod of garden fertilizer. In fact, the kids are surprised when I'll move my hand out of the way at exactly the moment when the chick drops a load. I can feel her muscles moving when she's roosting against my hand and know what she's about to do.

My chicks are very friendly--but the gold laced wyandotte, even with all the attention and handling, is still the most skittish. My Ameraucanas (or just plain Easter Eggers) are the most exploratory -- but my Dominques are the most friendly. They're the ones that started jumping into our hands and then roosting against us. In fact, on one of them earned her name ("Hand Hopper" -- "Hopper" for short) because she'd just jump right into our hands when we reached in.

I am new to this, but strongly recommend frequent and regular handling to foster comfort and familiarity with your chickens.

 

[n8ivetxn]

I'm trying to learn to let them grow a little before I start handling them - not for them, but for my emotional well-being. Sometimes chicks don't make it. Sometimes culling has to be done, whether it's rehoming or killing - so, I'm trying to wait until they get a little older and I can decide which ones I'm keeping and which ones I'll part with...that way I can rest easier with my decisions....