How much do you handle the chicks once they start jumping and flying?

[Raubkatze]

Or HOW do you handle them once they start jumping and flying?

Had a bit of an oops with one getting loose during our evening handling session last night. Thankfully everybody seems to be okay, but it sure gave me a good scare having it jump from the height of me standing upright. I am wondering if it might be time for me stop picking them up and find a different way to handle them/spend time with them. They will be 3 weeks old on Thursday.

 

[CombNWattles]

I think it is important to keep handling them so that they will be calm if you need to pick them up as adults.
When mine get bigger I put them in a puppy pen (pictured) for half an hour or so a day and sit in there with them. A low stool can save you a backache; sitting at their level seems to increase their confidence and it reduces the chance of dropping them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I try and remain crouched while handling them, to minimize fall distance. Thankfully chicks seem fairly resilient to falling as long as there's something soft-ish to land on. By 3 weeks they're easily able to jump up to and land from a 3' height.

Other option, if they're not already outside in an enclosed area, is to sit in an enclosure with them as CombNWattles posted.

 

[Raubkatze]

I try and remain crouched while handling them, to minimize fall distance. Thankfully chicks seem fairly resilient to falling as long as there's something soft-ish to land on. By 3 weeks they're easily able to jump up to and land from a 3' height.

Other option, if they're not already outside in an enclosed area, is to sit in an enclosure with them as CombNWattles posted.

They are not outside yet. This week we are finally getting temps in the low 40s. I don't think I'll ever get chicks this early in the year again!

Up to this point I've been picking them up one by one and holding them in my hands while I sit in a chair. I have a torn meniscus that needs to be repaired so getting down on the floor is near impossible for me.

 

[TokoBird]

They are not outside yet. This week we are finally getting temps in the low 40s. I don't think I'll ever get chicks this early in the year again!

Up to this point I've been picking them up one by one and holding them in my hands while I sit in a chair. I have a torn meniscus that needs to be repaired so getting down on the floor is near impossible for me.

In general, birds appreciate when handling is approached from the side, instead of descending from above like a hawk.
If you can keep their enclosure up on a low table, you'd be able to sit down in a chair by them, and keep them around eye-level.