To handle or not to handle??

[KristaBeth]

The BYC for Dummies book says not to handle the baby chicks too much or they'll be stressed out and not grow properly. But I've also read (mostly on this site) that we should handle the babies so they get to know us and become more tame. My little chicklets are still freaked out by me. I try to pick them up at least once a day so they'll get used to me.

What do you guys do??

 

[KellyHM]

I don't have time to handle mine, but they all calm down and become friendly once they figure out I'm the bringer of food and treats.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I also try not to handle too much. I do alot of watching for the first week to ten days. My chicks usually start "coming around" when they are 4/5 weeks old. I start sitting with them - usually when they go outside. They will start coming to me for attention after that. Also seems to be the time that they actually notice you bring the food.

 

[St-Hubert]

Newbie here, too. We have three 6-week olds and two 2-week olds. We handled the 6-week olds quite since they have been growing up, and I don't see that it has had an impact on their growth or stress levels. I am NOT an expert and have NOT raised chickens before these, so ours might be a unique experience. I know that the 6-week olds don't run from us, and they seem to enjoy being held, talked to, and petted-upon. The 2-weeks olds are still skittish, so we tried to spend a lot of time near them....hand down in the brooder in a non-threatening way....and they are starting to come up to us on their own and will sometimes hop up in our hand to say hi.

 

[abanjaf]

Hold them as much as you want to. They'll let you know when they've had enough

 

[Illia]

Yeah, in reality it is that they should let you know if you've done enough. . . I don't "handle" mine per say, but I believe in friendly, social chickens - So I always spend time with my chicks everyday. I don't pick them up all the time though (which is where the word handling comes into play) but I do give them treats, lure them to walk over me, get them used to my voice and my hands, etc. This way they know that I'm not a threat, or that I'm not going to actually bother them - Instead I just offer the things they need. (food, warmth, water, safety)

 

[chickengrandma]

We handled our's like CRAZY since they were 2-days old. Every morning and every night. We would hold them until they fell asleep and then sit and enjoy chicken-TV, watching the ones we weren't holding at the time.

They all come and stay by us when they are free-ranging, now. They'll come when I call "chick-chick-chick". They all LOVE, love, love belly rubs are bedtime. They purr and fluff all up and go to sleep.

Some are more willing to be picked-up and loved-up, then others. Some squawk like crazy - like we're goin' eat them - and then calm down and put up with the snuggling. One of our bantams thinks my daughter is her momma, so she is like having a pet dog. A couple of them fly up to my shoulder or head.

BUT, this our first ever experience with chickens, so I am no expert! We just couldn't keep our hands off of them, so they learned to tolerate it. BUT, but all of this being said...I CLOSELY monitored the handling. If they appeared to be stressin' out, we would put them down. We also spent a lot of time just watching them and being with them and NOT handling them. So, I guess it was just a lot of time with them overall and some very controlled, kind handling - all depending on their individual personalities and the feedback they gave us.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

My week olds have gotten to know me well. If i go into the hatching/brooder room and start talking to them, they all come running. They have learned that I'm not a threat. I don't unnecessarily handle them a lot but I do spend time with them. They even stand still for me to pet and rub them. If someone else goes in the room they all scatter to hide. I have to admit though, these are the friendliest chicks I've ever had.

 

[MagsC]

This is strange...but the ones I have born in February, we handled a little more, the second two hatches, not as much. And they are still pretty tame, though the February ones were WILD after they first hatched.
I think as long as you spend time with them, it really doesnt make a big difference if you handle them or not. They figure out who gives them food and water,lol.

 

[logansmommy7]

I was wondering this as well last week when I got 15 day olds from TSC....they are now in my daughter's preschool classroom for their farm unit. The teacher told me today that when they turn on the music for their songs the chicks all lay down and go to sleep! This is my first experience with bringing up chicks this way...and it is too cute! They don't seem to mind the kids, who all absolutely LOVE watching them!