how do i raise happy chicks

Pics
Date sort Score sort
Alt-WELCOME-farmer-connie-1.gif

Chickens will by much happier at your place than at an egg battery!
 
Happy chicks are they best, aren't they?!

When they arrived on their first day of life we had good luck just petting them a lot in the brooder then laying our hands on the ground and letting them get used to hands/arms. Once they started walking over our hands we'd hold our hands just a little off the floor of the brooder and often they'd just hop on. We'd give them more pets on our hands, talking to them all the while. That was at one day old :)

Once they were fine with hopping on our hands, we'd start moving them around the brooder keeping our hands a little off the floor so they were still all together. Eventually we'd lift them out of the brooder (but where they could still see the others) and just keep petting and talking to them. I'm sure we were doing that by the second day.

Once they started getting more spunky (jumping, hopping, flapping, etc) I put mini-roosts in the brooder and started holding out just my index finger. I think that was the third day. They just naturally started perching anywhere they could - including my finger!

All that to say just spend time with them and keep them entertained. They'll fall in love with you! Other tricks:

They had a dirt box from the very first day (for cocci exposure since we don't use medicated feed) and by the third day they were dust bathing! We'd bring in dirt that had bits of weed and roots in it and they'd play chase games with the bits. Too fun!

Whenever we were able to pay more-or-less constant attention to them we'd make sure the brooder lid wasn't on. The brooders were in our living room, so this wasn't hard. We used plastic totes for brooders. Within a few days they'd spend most of their time (apart from eating, drinking, and playing) just roosting along the brooder rim. By that point if they wanted attention (i.e. handling) they'd let you know! It could be as simple as they way they look at you. Just hold out a hand and they'd fly onto it! Of course they would get adventurous and sometimes go exploring by hopping down off the brooder rim or actually taking flight to elsewhere in the house.

That was exasperating occasionally. But most of the time it was hilarious and good fun!

Once they got bigger we'd do "lap time" and let them take naps on our laps (on a towel of course). Those were wonderful times :) And they continue (less frequently) at 10 months. We just can't fit more than two birds on a lap at a time.

Our girls never showed interest in mirrors or toys like a rolling ball. We never had the chance to try a chicken swing but I've heard chicks are the ones most likely to make use of a swing.

Just hang out with them as much as you can and they'll be as friendly as they can be! Of course some breeds and individuals are just not that interested in hanging out with humans. But spending time with them will give them the best shot at being friendly.

Enjoy!!
 
Hi and welcome to BYC :frow We're so happy you've decided to join us:ya
I spend a lot of time with the chicks while in the brooder, but not so much when on pasture. When I go to pasture and am walking, they run... When I sit and relax, they hop up in my lap. I have a few who are infatuated with my shoulders too.

ETA: if you find the latter, make sure your eyes are protected as the unintentional love peck can be very painful to the eye.:oops:
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom