Playing with chicks

[LittleHouseDreams]

I visit my chicks off and on during the day. Since I'm a stay at home mom I have that benefit.

Now that my 4 chicks are a week old I am holding them a few minutes each once or twice a day so they will get used to being handled.

I do not have a favorite yet since I can't tell them apart and I am waiting to see their personalities develop.

I do not always play with them when I check on them but I do always talk to them.


Cheers,

Noelle

 

[DTchickens]

1.) How often do you interact with your chicks? everyday as much as i can until they get adult size. then at least once a day.
2.) How long do you hold and cuddle each individual chick? 5-10 minutes. sometimes more, sometimes less.
3.) Do you play with each chick every "session"?Yes.
4.) Do you favor 1 or more chicks over the others? yes, i always have my favorite i like to hold more, But other then that they get nothing more the others dont

 

[cjstanman]

1.) How often do you interact with your chicks? 2-3 times a day. I have 6 BR chicks that are about 2 weeks old.

2.) How long do you hold and cuddle each individual chick? Well, it depends on how calm (or not) they are. Sometimes they're all just chillin' - sometimes they freak out like the sky is falling, I can't figure it out. I do talk to them all the time, move slowly, change their water, fill up their food. You'd think they'd learn.

3.) Do you play with each chick every "session"? Depends.

4.) Do you favor 1 or more chicks over the others? Not yet - they all look alike and move as a herd, ha ha!

 

[RavenStorm]

#1. I don't have school right now so I have a lot of free time. I go in the brooder room (bathroom) several times a day to check on food/water/temp/cleanliness, and each time I'm done checking I just sit there watching them for a while.

#2. None of the chicks like to be "cuddled" per say, but I do pick each of them up and let them sit on my hand. I also will hold each one of them upside down and rub their heads for a while, pull out their wings, hold their feet, and gently hold and move around their heads so that they get used to being handled and inspected for them they grow up.

#3. Yes, I only have 6 so that makes it easy to deal with each of them.

#4. No, not really. None of them are little lovers, but 4 of them like being up high so when I put my hand in there they all take turns jumping onto my hand so I can lift them up so those ones get more attention I guess.

P.S.: I got a surprise baby gosling yesterday and right now she is my baby. She cries relentlessly during the day if she can't see me (and she is loud!), so right now I am taking advantage of my wifi and I am sitting outside with her sleeping between my feet. It is so cute I could just about hug her to death! Can't get too attached though ... we have already named her Christmas Dinner ...

 

[JennsPeeps]

Quote:
Aw, that's just sad! You should learn the cardinal rule of raising animals to eat: "Don't play with your food."

My girls are now ~3 months old...

1. I picked up my chicks constantly when they were babies. The best thing about being a grownup with chicks is that nobody tells me to put them down!

2. No set time, really. Until they squirmed or wanted to be put away. Or until I got pooped on.

3. Tried to, yes.

4. Yes yes yes! Her name is Gwenevyre (Gwen). She's now 3 months old and is our total favorite. She's sweet, gentle when eating from your hand, and loves attention. Our neighbor's 9yo came over the other day & she let him pick her up, no problem.

MURPHY'S LAW: Gwen is a great chicken and our fav, which means that she'll probably be the one who gets eaten by a raccoon or die prematurely from something else.

 

[EngieKisses]

At least I do not feel like the only person anymore. DH is very supportive, but he thought I had a screw that must be loose on this subject.

 

[Jarhead]

Everyone thought I was a little off too. They would look at me all cross eyed and say things like - "Playing with chickens? What? Huh? I am glad I do though, they are truly magnificent little creatures.

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
1. As often as two dozen times a day, to as little as once a week when I am not home.

2. Random, few minutes, often just stay on the ground running about.

3. Too many, but if rearing small numbers, all at the same times.

4. Yep, the ones not meant for meat or production get more attention as they'll be pets.

 

[RavenStorm]

Quote:
Aw, that's just sad! You should learn the cardinal rule of raising animals to eat: "Don't play with your food."

Lol, I know that rule but this is my first time ever having animals! I've worked with the animals out on the Ag Unit at my campus but I've never had any at my home before. Plus I didn't name her, my DB who brought her home as a rescue from the feed store had already started calling her that. She has severe separation anxiety so while I would prefer to not get too close to her she wont shut up unless she can see me and/or be under me. It was too hot out so I moved indoors and placed her in a temporary make-shift pen right at my screen door so she could see me. Even though I'm talking to her and I am less than a foot away, she is trying to push through the screen to be with me right now! It's heartbreaking!

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
Aw, that's just sad! You should learn the cardinal rule of raising animals to eat: "Don't play with your food."

Lol, I know that rule but this is my first time ever having animals! I've worked with the animals out on the Ag Unit at my campus but I've never had any at my home before. Plus I didn't name her, by DB who brought her home as a rescue from the feed store had already started calling her that. She as severe separation anxiety so while I would prefer to not get too close to her she wont shut up unless she can see me and/or be under me. It was too hot out so I moved indoors and placed her in a temporary make-shift pen right at my screen door so she could see me. Even though I'm talking to her and I am less than a foot away, she is trying to push through the screen to be with me right now! It's heartbreaking!

Goslings imprint, so to her you really ARE mommy!!