Letting kids handle chicks?!?!?

[kdavis228]

TX for all the great advice, I was hoping they could have alot to do with them just because there so excited to get them. And I was hoping that the more involved they are the more responsibility they would learn!

 

[debid]

I have twin 5.5YO boys. They're ALL OVER the chicks and they've done a terrific job convincing their favorite to enjoy being held (they like her because she's the same color as their hair...)

We have lots of rules about the chicks and one is that they are not allowed to open the brooder box without me or my husband present. They aren't allowed to put anything into the box except bugs that they catch (they already know which bugs are OK to touch and which aren't). We all wash our hands after handling the chicks. Etc, etc.

I do let them hold and carry the chicks. It's how we get the group from the brooder to the lawn when we have some outside time. The boys are extremely careful and the chicks aren't so fragile at 2-4 weeks so it's working out fine. They help fill the feeders. They love to offer treats and actually enjoy being pecked at. I think it's a great experience for them and I'm looking forward to them getting into 4H.

 

[bburn]

Agree with all.....bottoms down to hold a chick. The fall from their hands to the ground would kill them.

That said something else that needs to be addressed. Chickens grow up. Those sweet little roos you are playing with will grow up. Once they do the day will come when they are not sweet little roos but flock protectors. And although we look at them as our 'pets' they are doing what comes natural to them.

Once my chickens got their size and the roo behaviors started the coops and runs were off limits. My DH decided that it was okay for my DGD to go in the run because he was there and the roo likes him even though the rooster has come at me every time I have gone in there the last four months. DGD looked at me and I told her it was up to her. She is 10....she made it two steps into the run before he came at her.

Last weekend we took the roo to the chicken swap and he was sold in three minutes. She and I both were giddy! Sweet little roos can grow up and not be so sweet. And this was her rooster!

I think this is a great life lesson for kids. But, they need to hear now that they will grow up and some will still be nice but there are others that won't and what they need to watch for now. It will make it easier on you when the day comes that you have to make the coops and runs off limits.

 

[egg_tastic]

My three year old is exceptionally gentle and good with animals. However, there are still rules and supervision. The biggest concern is when they are outside for her to watch her step. For the first couple days the chicks were in a rubbermaid brooder. Then I moved them to a large wire dog crate. I prefer the crate for many reasons, one being my daughter cannot get to them! That way she isn't constantly reaching in trying to pick them up.

 

[Saltysteele]

my 6-yo daughter (just turned 6) is excellent with chicks, very gentle.

however, your kids might be more high strung, you have to judge for yourself.

i think they should be fine, unless you've got some of those that have to bounce when they're made to stand in one spot

did someone mention hand sanitizer?? really??

hand sanitizer has to be the biggest scam going, and is also a major contributor to resistant bacteria. i grew up on a hog farm (with sheep, goats, cows, chickens, turkeys) and we washed our hands twice a day - at noon and when we came in at night. we never had issues.

 

[debid]

Quote:
You make a good point about roosters. We've BTDT with my folks' birds (they have an whoops roo). I bought all sexed pullets but the kids already know that this isn't a certainty and that mean roosters are best suited for dinner. I don't think I'd process with them home (I still remember VIVIDLY my parents processing birds when I was 4!) but I'm fine with them knowing where food comes from.

 

[noodleroo]

Quote:
My feelings exactly

 

[anthrochick]

My 5 year old is afraid to touch our chicks and that's fine by me. Our almost-8 year old is very good with our chicks, but we do have to monitor carefully, especially with dogs and cats around too. I am hoping her handling them will help them be tame chickens. She has more interest in picking them up and talking to them than I do. One of them is quite used to her. I did talk to her about the fact that she might want to try not to get too attached to any one particular chick (hopefully none are roos, but you never know, and anything could happen to one of them).

 

[Noymira]

I've been wondering this myself. My daughter is still a bit young at almost 2, but I know she will want to touch them, so we might try a few gentle pets while I am holding one. Any other contact will have to wait until they are quite a bit bigger.

My cousin has been on me for weeks to let her know when I get the chicks so she can bring her almost 5 year old over to see them. That makes me a bit nervous, but her daughter is generally well behaved, so we'll take it slow and see how it goes. Good advice about making sure she's sitting down and washes her hands after, I'll remember that.

 

[mama24]

Quote:
Alcohol based hand sanitizer does not contribute to resistant bacteria, only the alcohol free versions do. Triclosan breaks down into dioxins, so not only does it contribute to the growing problem of resistant bacteria, but it is also very toxic and bad for the environment! I do not buy any products that contain triclosan. I make my own lye soap (I started that b/c we all have extremely sensitive skin in my family; nothing is milder than properly made lye soap!) which is naturally antibacterial and that's what we wash our hands with at home. I do have alcohol based hand sanitizer in my purse, but we rarely use it.

We've had chickens for quite a while now and noneof my kids have ever gotten sick. I have 2 friends who are professional photographers who "borrowed" my baby chicks for Easter pics this spring. I helped out during 2 shoots. They made (alcohol based) hand sanitizer available, but no one used it. None of the kids got sick.

These aren't factory farm birds who never see sunlight and swim in their own feces and stale air. These are healthy active chicks. I seriously doubt there is near as much risk of salmonella, etc, with our chicks as there is w/ factory raised birds. And even if they are germy, it's good for the kids' immune system to be exposed to some good dirt and germs!