How much handling?

[jecombs]

So I just got my first ever set of baby chicks and I am so in love! They are staying at my friend's house in her brooder with the 25 chicks she got (I only got 5). They will be coming home to my place when they are old enough to stay outside (and when my husband gets the coop built).

I want the chicks to be super friendly and well-socialized, but I don't want to stress them with too much handling. What is the right balance? How much can we handle them? My 4 yr old is very excited to have them and loves to hold them!

 

[ipie68]

I have heard that even just a minute a day will keep then socialized well.

 

[captainmommy3]

i pet mine just once a day and obviously when i clean bedding but i do like to sit and watch them and talk to them for like 5-10 mins now and then. mine have also started being treated to a little cooked egg from time to time THEY LOVE IT! so i wash my hands good and put a bit in my hand and set my hand on the floor and they will eat it.

 

[felidaet]

I don't think that you can hold them too much. We try to hold our as much as possible. We usually have 15 - 20 chicks t a time and so it is difficult to hold each one very long. We do make sure that each one gets held at least once a day.

 

[featheredroots]

I try not to stess mine out by holding them too much, beyond the daily check for pasty butt and such. However, I do play with them by simply putting my hand in the brooder and letting them climb on and under it, they especially like it when I wear my wedding band, as anything shiny is of great interest to them. I also feed them from my hand often, either meal worms or some of their feed, they seem to like that quite well. I did find that while doing thier daily check, mine seem to like being stroked on their chest and neck, it actually has put a couple to sleep right in my hand...lol!

 

[jecombs]

Thanks for the feedback! We went to visit them again today and held them. They didn't like being caught, but were okay once I had them in my hand. I can't believe how much they have grown in just two days! We're looking forward to the day we can bring them home and they won't need the brooder anymore.