Letting kids handle chicks?!?!?

[kdavis228]

I'm getting 25 chicks in less than 2 weeks, and I have a 7 and 5 y/o girls that can't wait till they get here. I have a large brooders box built,but was wondering how much contact my girls can have with my 25 other girls without any harm or damage being done? TX for any suggestions!

 

[CCourson05]

As much as they want... Just don't squeeze them... That will cause them stress though...

 

[BrattishTaz]

and congratualtions on your new chicks.

New babies are delicate so I would be careful when they are around small children. You may not want to let them hold them for a couple of weeks. Then set very clear rules and make the kids sit down and calmly let the chicks eat feed from their hands. You might want to have them pet rather than hold them.

Make sure you teach the kids to watch their eyes around the babies (they love eyes).

 

[so lucky]

If your kids can "be gentle" and not be too hyper, they will probably benefit from the experience, and the chicks will be easier to handle when they get bigger. Just make sure the kids get in the habit of washing hands or using hand sanitizer after playing with the chicks. My grandkids love the chicks, and are learning to accept the fact that sometimes you get pooped on. Of course, the handling needs to be supervised by you till you feel confident they can manage, and not step on the babies, etc.

 

[3chimama]

i've always let my neice hold mine and they sure have been tamer because of being held so much. I always make her wash her hands afterwards.

 

[gale65]

I have a question about hand sanitizer. I thought about keeping a bottle in the coop while the chicks are babies (obviously way out of their reach) so my kids can use it. But if the kids use the hand sanitizer, and then suddenly decide they aren't done holding chicks, will it hurt the chicks?

 

[ginormous chicken]

No... I think you are OK. We pick them up without sanitizer all the time. My thing is, don't let the kids forget to wash their hands AFTER they play with the chicks. Touching chicken poop and then putting hands in open oraphuses is not a good idea.

IMO Little children should play with the chicks a lot. It is good for both chicks and kids. However, with that being said. Like stated before, ground rules are good. Can't hold a chick and be walking around, have to be sitting. Be careful when lifting from the bottom. No grabbing the wing or foot. Stuff like that. Once I explain to little kids that they are very very very fragile and you have to be very careful or they will break, they are good. I think it is natural that kids like chicks. They are so soft, fury, and helpless. Just supervise...don't worry it'll be fine.

Oh...

 

[KansasBoy]

My son is 6 and handles feed/water and is very responsable in doing so, but he tends to overreact when young chicks go flapping about in his hands... As a rule of thumb around here he handles no chick under three weeks old without both asking and having one of us present! Better safe than sorry!

 

[gale65]

Quote:
Actually my concern was if my kids have hand sanitizer on their hands, and then handle the chicks. Will the hand sanitizer transfer to the chicks and if so will it hurt them? My kids are older (12, 14 and 15) so I don't need to worry about the handling so much. When I raised chicks in my previous life, I didn't have kids.

 

[mama24]

Kids over 5 or so tend to be fine. Kids under 5 need lots of supervision. My 2yo daughter is fine with the chicks, though, but she's not allowed to visit them without an adult or her almost 12yo brother. One of my friends has a 4yo boy who accidentally squished and killed one of my chicks last month, though.

We didn't know the kids were in there with them until it was too late. He is too youngt o understand death, and kept asking when the chick would wake up.

poor baby. My autistic 5yo son gets a little rambunctious sometimes, but is mostly fine. We need to watch him when he visits with the chicks. My 7yo and 11yo are fine without supervision.