I care.... but not like I thought I would.

[sylviethecochin]

Thanks for the feedback. After reading the "You know you are a backyard chicken owner when...." thread scared me a little. Like should I not be owning chickens? I will deffinitly take care of them but I'm not that as on an emotional attached animal person.

Heck, I'm one of the responders on that thread, and I'm not a chicken cuddler. Mine are livestock. They follow me into the coop for feeding. That's about all the closer most of them are willing to be. I have a few favorite pets (Sylvie, Peahen, my avatar) and they allow me to pick them up if I tempt them in with feed.

I did once drop a $300 laptop on the floor in my hurry to investigate loud peeping (free-ranging chicks.) Nothing had better hurt my chickens. But will I cuddle them? Nope.

 

[Beer can]

I have no desire to cuddle or have one in my lap when they are older......

Are they all going to turn out mean or skittish of humans?

I do the same, I don't make pets or friends out of them. They are cool to have around, can't imagine not having chickens, but just eggs and meat.
And yup chicks go nuts like your a big giant ready to eat them lol.
I hatched six out on Easter and I think I've handled them three times now, first time putting them into the brooder, and twice now putting them in a box to clean out the brooder. I will admit I like watching them here and there, chicken tv, can be pretty amusing/interesting sometimes.
They're fine when they get older, somewhat standoffish depending on the bird itself and breed, but they know who supplies the feed and come a running anyway.
My jersey giants pretty much do their thing, but not skittish at all. My naked neck hens raised the same, crowd my feet and won't leave me alone when I feed them, annoying lol.
The roosters , giant is easier to grab a hold of to handle if need be than the hens, opposite with the naked necks hens stand still, rooster takes a little more work to catch. But both roosters non-aggressive at all so no touchy feely doesn't make roosters even skittish or mean.

 

[Hyroler]

You should let chick sleep in your bed at least one night a week.It will make them want to cuddle when they get older.You should let chicks eat at dinner table one night a week they will respect you as they get older.You should let chicks borrow your car at least one night a week they will trust you more when they get older.You should eat fried chicken one night a week this will remind you they are just chickens.

 

[Beer can]

My 2 yr old son says hi and bye to the chicks when we pass them in our garage coming and going. He wanted in the brooder and to hold (grab) them. It might actually be a good thing to sit him down with me and watch them. Talk about what they are doing. He is a little wild and that could help him and our relationship with the chicks at the same time. Thanks.

He'll have fun, love it. I grew up with always free range chickens around, remember observing them a lot when I was a kid.
We have five kids, 19-5, I don't discourage holding , handling chicks sometimes, not a big deal. I watch them like a hawk though, kids can drop chicks pretty easy (especially when they don't want to be held), don't want them to harm the chicks. And definitely wash their hands afterwards.

 

[Beer can]

You should let chick sleep in your bed at least one night a week.It will make them want to cuddle when they get older.You should let chicks eat at dinner table one night a week they will respect you as they get older.You should let chicks borrow your car at least one night a week they will trust you more when they get older.You should eat fried chicken one night a week this will remind you they are just chickens.

 

[3riverschick]

Hyroler, you sarcastic BYCer!!
That's funny!!
I don't hug chickens or treat them like household pets either. They have a 13 second memory.
I enjoy eating their eggs! And selling young birds to other people.
If you want to do one thing fun with chickens, give them special veggies. That's where they really live! Yum, !!

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I am new to chickens also, and mine are 8 weeks old. I didn't cuddle them, although I do pet them when I move them from coop to portable run. They don't really like it though. Like someone else said, I don't want to get poop on me and they are not the cleanest animal. I have a 10 year old and a 7 year old. My 10 year old adores animals and has her favorite chicken that she holds and cuddles with. My 7 year old is still learning how to handle them properly and he helps me round them up and move them.
Two of mine are skittish and two will come right to me. I think it has more to do with the breed, as two are buff orps and they are supposed to be friendlier. My daughter has tried to "tame" the other two but they won't have it.

 

[Living_Legend]

You should let chick sleep in your bed at least one night a week.It will make them want to cuddle when they get older.You should let chicks eat at dinner table one night a week they will respect you as they get older.You should let chicks borrow your car at least one night a week they will trust you more when they get older.You should eat fried chicken one night a week this will remind you they are just chickens.

I used to leave the keys in my ATV in the garage with the chicks but every time I get home from work my yard is torn up and the ATV is warm so now I take them with me. My guess is it's the runt of the group The Quiet One the Buckeye who doesn't follow the rest of the pack and does it own thing.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

Sweetheart the fact that your conscious has you posting this is all that needs to be said...you will be just fine

 

[Hyroler]

I used to leave the keys in my ATV in the garage with the chicks but every time I get home from work my yard is torn up and the ATV is warm so now I take them with me. My guess is it's the runt of the group The Quiet One the Buckeye who doesn't follow the rest of the pack and does it own thing.

You have to be careful if those chickens get out of yard and onto street with that atv they can do some damage.They might even hop on freeway and never come back.I suggest not leaving too much fuel in atv enough for them to have a little fun but not get out of control.