how much handling??

[my3jsons]

We had some friends who got chicks and were told not to let the kids handle them. So they all admired them and watched them grow without handling them at all. So... when they were grown they would attack the kids if they came into the coop!

They didn't have chickens very long. I have no experience with chicks yet, but I can't wait for us all to love on our 15 chicks when they get here in a few weeks.

 

[Amigatec]

I'm holding my girls and they are pooping on their daddy, now that's not nice.

 

[Keenonf]

I understand why they wouldn't want their kids roughing some baby chicks up, but not letting them be held at all?! No wonder they were so aggressive. A part of it is just there breed but i'd say the deciding factor of aggressive tendencies, besides gender, would be if they where socialized when they where small. I have 3 RIR (rhode island red) laying hens who regularly gang up on our dogs and eat snakes. But because i've hand raised those suckers they have never attacked or even pecked at me. They will constantly follow me around and will come if i call them. Just hand raise them and try to pick them up at least once a day so that when they get older they won't be a pain. And if they do become aggressive, just remember that there chickens not dogs. Its ok to kill and eat them. Oh and welcome to BYC