To Handle, Or Not to Handle?

[ChicknThief]

That is the question. LOL.


Has anyone noticed this? Because I am curious. Do the chicks that are handled a lot turn out to have better temperments than the ones who are just left alone for the most part???

I love to love on my chickies, but not at the expense of their personalities...

Anyone have any thoughts???

 

[Frozen Feathers]

I think the more you handle them the more tolerant of being handled they become. It doesn't necessarily mean they are going to be super friendly birds if you do handle them a lot or that they are going to be unsocial if you don't.

 

[ChicknThief]

Thanks Ang!

Anyone else have an opinion??

 

[Katy]

I try and handle mine quite a bit.....but not like I would a puppy or a kitten. I do think the more you interact with them by talking to them and handling them the calmer they become. I don't enjoy chickens who freak out when I walk in a pen!

 

[ChicknThief]

Quote:
Agreed! I am just asking because my mom's two chickens that she handled alot both turned into total freaks. I seriously dont want to turn my chicks into paranoid, schitzo, etc chickens!!!

 

[Katy]

Maybe it was the breed they were. Some breeds are much calmer than others.

 

[okiechick57]

I think when you have one that is friendly.........just enjoy...I have handled some that turned skitzoid on me..........and others....well only 1/2 skitzioid....I have one friendly enough to pick up hen...........don't know why though

 

[silkiechicken]

I find that regardless of how much I do or don't handle them, some birds are innately nicer than others, be they be one of two, or one of 20. The nicest birds I have had was when I first started about a decade ago.... but chances are... it was because I was in middle school with not so much going on in life so I could haul around a bird with me after school every day for hours on end. Don't have that kind of time anymore.

Nothing bad will happen with lots of handling as long as they don't get chilled and can eat/drink enough.

One thing I do notice though is that some of the sweetest chicks can reach laying age and then go birzerk with those hen hormones!

 

[ChicknThief]

LOL. Hennie PMS