Petting

[Rubyroo1]

I want to put oatmeal in my chiks feed to stop diarrhea? Any thoughts? Will it hurt them?

 

[azygous]

Are you sure they have diarrhea? Some forms of poo are naturally liquid, especially the pudding-like cecal excretions.

If you feed them oatmeal, cook it.

 

[Jessica Lynn]

If it's your desire to interact affectionately with your baby chicks, do it! All baby chicks will respond well to being cuddled closely. They love the warmth of being held under your chin, and it's wonderful to hear them respond with their version of puring - a sort of whistling. Older chicks will calm down when a hand is placed gently on their backs, and their head is stroked very gently on the back of the neck. They also love having their tiny cheek stroked. That will usually bliss out any chicken, young and old.

More and more, people are discovering what wonderful, affectionate pets chickens are. Chickens love being petted if they are introduced to it from the very beginning. Older chickens that have never been held and petted won't be trusting at first when a human wants to pet them, but with time, even those usually can be converted into little hug hogs.

It all depends on your own intentions, confidence, and willingness to love these charming little beasts.

My two little girls tote the chickens around everywhere. It's not unusual for me to walk in and find a chicken on one of their laps as they watch cartoons or to find that one of them snuck a chicken into bed for their naps!

 

[Sharon Bee]

What happens to the poop?

 

[PrimroseMom1]

My hens are very tame. I hold them in my lap and using my index finger and middle finger I stroke their head by bringing my two fingers from the back (not in their face) one finger on each side of their comb and stroking smoothly back in the direction of their head feathers. I never stroke against the feathers. I just keep gently stroking with two fingers on each side of their comb. They love it. They stretch out their necks and close their eyes. I think they go to sleep. All my chickens like this.

 

[azygous]

My two little girls tote the chickens around everywhere. It's not unusual for me to walk in and find a chicken on one of their laps as they watch cartoons or to find that one of them snuck a chicken into bed for their naps!

And don't think for a minute that those chickens aren't loving every bit of all that love and attention! Believe me when I say that any chicken who doesn't want to be held will certainly make a hasty escape. These are not unwilling victims, by any means!

My chickens hop into my lap whenever the opportunity presents itself, and they would stay there all day if I would let them.

As for the "poop" question, very rarely have I had a hen poop on me. It happens, but not all that often. When it does, I'm washable.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

X

...

And don't think for a minute that those chickens aren't loving every bit of all that love and attention! Believe me when I say that any chicken who doesn't want to be held will certainly make a hasty escape. These are not unwilling victims, by any means!

My chickens hop into my lap whenever the opportunity presents itself, and they would stay there all day if I would let them.

As for the "poop" question, very rarely have I had a hen poop on me. It happens, but not all that often. When it does, I'm washable.
[/quote

X2. It is very rare for a chicken to poop on me. I got a 1 year old rabbit and when I would hold her she would let a full blatter loose on me. But as she got to know me it never happens. Likewise, if someone holds my chickens that they don't know, they are more likely to get the poop. Lol. I don't know if they are holding it in for me or that they are relaxed with me. But it tends to be true.

 

[Sharon Bee]

And don't think for a minute that those chickens aren't loving every bit of all that love and attention! Believe me when I say that any chicken who doesn't want to be held will certainly make a hasty escape. These are not unwilling victims, by any means!

My chickens hop into my lap whenever the opportunity presents itself, and they would stay there all day if I would let them.

As for the "poop" question, very rarely have I had a hen poop on me. It happens, but not all that often. When it does, I'm washable.

I'm just thinking about the little girls holding them and taking to bed with regard to poops.

 

[Jessica Lynn]

And don't think for a minute that those chickens aren't loving every bit of all that love and attention! Believe me when I say that any chicken who doesn't want to be held will certainly make a hasty escape. These are not unwilling victims, by any means!

My chickens hop into my lap whenever the opportunity presents itself, and they would stay there all day if I would let them.

As for the "poop" question, very rarely have I had a hen poop on me. It happens, but not all that often. When it does, I'm washable.

Our chickens love the attention too! My oldest girl said "it's ok if they poop on me. I take lots of baths". She's not nearly as prissy as her little sister!

I'm just thinking about the little girls holding them and taking to bed with regard to poops.

Luckily there haven't been any accidents. If there had been we would change the sheets and give the girls a quick bubblebath. My oldest heard me mention chicken diapers. Now she thinks she can give away her dolls and play dressup the chickens. I told her it would make the chickens sad. So until she can come up with a better idea the chickens will stay in the buff.

 

[LoneOak]

If you go all the way back to some of the original books on raising chickens they always warn about not having chickens in the house, especially around children. Chickens are animals that carry many diseases that are unseen by the human eye that can cause severe reactions in some people. Salmonella is the first to come to mind and maybe the worst of them all.

I would never bring my farm animals in the house and never ever for what ever reason let them on the bed where my children sleep. Many of you treat them like pets but they are not pets they are farm animals that we use to get food from both for the eggs and their meat. We cook those eggs and that meat to make sure all the diseases and parasites are killed. I suggest you read some more about raising chickens and if you don't believe what I say find and ask an expert or you might just want to check with you favorite vet to begin with.

The next time that chicken is on your childs bed think about what they tell you when you cut up a chicken for supper and how you never use the same knife to cut up your salad without a thorough cleaning and disinfection!