Handling very young pet chicks: Yea or Nay?

[honeynajar]

Where do you put your nose????????????

I mean like nose to nose or on their feathers or what? Mine are 3 weeks old now and I handle them at a minimum of 2 x a day. sitting with them and letting them crawl on me. I've got one that is a "loner" but she was the baby of the pack... so she's always been different. I just don't know where they might like to be touched???????

Definately hold them, cuddle them, play with them, rub your nose against them... Seriously, try it! They're so soft! They tickle... anyway.

 

[Tinka]

So glad I found this forum. I was wondering the same thing myself because today I became the proud owner (or do they own me now?) of four little Brahma chicks that I just can't seem to leave be. Love holding them, watching them, and taking pics. So cute. Now I am more relieved about holding them so much. Thank you.

 

[Disco Hen]

Deffinatly!! Hold them as much as possible

 

[albert w]

Our four chicks (plain old Production Reds) practically grew up in our house, with newspaper spread everywhere! Now, their coop is right next to our four kids' tire swing, sand box and trampoline. When the kids are out playing the, now grown, hens race up and down whichever side of the run the kids and their friends are playing on, begging to get out and play too! And believe me, we usually have a noisy croud out there. As long as its just MY kids out there, the ladies are let out. They follow the kids like dogs and join me in the garden for weeding. One of the hens sticks so close we have to be careful of stepping on her! I think handling them has prevented any stress that would occur from so much "goings on".
Good luck and congratulations!

 

[californiagirl]

We handle ours many times every day. Fortunately, we home school and are able to be with them all day long. My kids are also old enough to handle them properly so they get lots of cuddles (and I'll admit to some fuzzy kisses too).

Our year-old hens are very friendly and talkative. Sometimes they seem too friendly if they suspect you have food on you. I often see my youngest son running around the yard with one tucked under his arm like a football or being driven around in a Little Tykes car.

Right now we have one chick that was older than the others by a couple of weeks when we got them. She trembles and cries to get back in the brooder with the other chicks when I take her out. She seems to be fine if I take her in the other room though, so I think it's that she's concerned for the others, not that she doesn't like being held. I hold her more often to try to make up for those couple of weeks where she didn't get much human interaction. I wish there was such a thing as a chicken sling so I could tote her around with me like a baby!

She's the bigger one - a Speckled Sussex - in the back by the thermometer. We also have an Ancana, RIR, Buff Orpington, Golden Comet, and Silver Laced Wyandotte.


Good luck with your chicks and enjoy the fuzzy love!

 

[SweetSilver]

I have a hard time *not* picking them up. Especially the cochins. Ooooh they are so amazingly soft, even for chicks. I can feel them relax more when I hold them and coo and talk to them. Only when I need to check their bums for pasted vents do I need to rile them up. Otherwise, I can be pretty slow and calm. It's good for them if you want them to be approachable.

 

[rendezvous1838]

"Can I hold one?"
"No"
" PLEASE, can I? can I? can I?"
"no"
" Pleeeeaaassse, can I?"
"Still no"
(big sigh)

 

[littleredhen90]

I say yes! I've always smothered my little ones and theyve all grown up to be very social..some too much so, chasing my non-chicken friends around just lookin for some lovins.

 

[Disco Hen]

So glad I found this forum. I was wondering the same thing myself because today I became the proud owner (or do they own me now?) of four little Brahma chicks that I just can't seem to leave be. Love holding them, watching them, and taking pics. So cute. Now I am more relieved about holding them so much. Thank you.

 

[Disco Hen]

We handle ours many times every day. Fortunately, we home school and are able to be with them all day long. My kids are also old enough to handle them properly so they get lots of cuddles (and I'll admit to some fuzzy kisses too).

Our year-old hens are very friendly and talkative. Sometimes they seem too friendly if they suspect you have food on you. I often see my youngest son running around the yard with one tucked under his arm like a football or being driven around in a Little Tykes car.

Right now we have one chick that was older than the others by a couple of weeks when we got them. She trembles and cries to get back in the brooder with the other chicks when I take her out. She seems to be fine if I take her in the other room though, so I think it's that she's concerned for the others, not that she doesn't like being held. I hold her more often to try to make up for those couple of weeks where she didn't get much human interaction. I wish there was such a thing as a chicken sling so I could tote her around with me like a baby!

She's the bigger one - a Speckled Sussex - in the back by the thermometer. We also have an Ancana, RIR, Buff Orpington, Golden Comet, and Silver Laced Wyandotte.


Good luck with your chicks and enjoy the fuzzy love!

I have a hard time *not* picking them up. Especially the cochins. Ooooh they are so amazingly soft, even for chicks. I can feel them relax more when I hold them and coo and talk to them. Only when I need to check their bums for pasted vents do I need to rile them up. Otherwise, I can be pretty slow and calm. It's good for them if you want them to be approachable.