Handling?

[mermaidgoat]

Should I be handling my chicks often? They seem to get stressed when I pick them up, so I'm wondering if I should be handling them more or less.

 

[tazcat70]

It honestly depends on who you ask. If you handle them your birds will not fear you--or at least not as much. However there is a debate as to if this might make roos go bad, because they don't fear humans.

I handle mine, but not a lot, but only because I do not have enough time to cuddle them all day long.

Tonya

 

[mermaidgoat]

I enjoy handling mine - I just wasn't sure if they could be "over-handled". My sons also like to love them up quite a bit...

Not sure if we have any roosters yet. It's possible.

 

[joy]

It doesn't hurt to handle them as often as possible. I have always produced sweeter chickens as a result.

 

[Missouri Maiden]

I handle my chicks alot because I want them to be tame, but I don't have any cockrels. Most of them enjoy being held and cuddled but some still think after a week I'm an evil monkey out to get them!

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

Being a new chick Mom of ten 9 wk olds, I wanted mine to like me and be used to being handled.

Just this morning, one of the BO got out of the run when I was getting fresh water and rather than have to chase her down (they can fly), I just talked sweet while walking up to her slowly and just scooped her right up.

I think if you have the chicks as pets, you need to handle them. How else would you check for injuries, lice, pasty butt, impacted anything, etc.

I handled mine equally but still have 1 of the 10, an EE that has always squacked and HATED being handled. If she ever gets out, I will not have fun trying to catch her.

 

[chickenhick]

If you start out by just putting you hand in the brooder without touching them, they will not be so stressed. After a while, start touching them and then gradually pick them up briefly. Also, dip your finger in their water and then in the feed. Let them pick feed off your finger and they will learn that the hand is a good thing.