to hold or not to hold?

[mwc0404]

BYC pros I need your thoughts, opinions, and knowledge here.

I read one article saying not to hold your chicks to much. I read another article saying to hold them and spend time with them as often as possible so they can get used to you.

Which is it? Two varying articles with contradicting theorys. What do you think or know on the subject?

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

I’m curious Why did they suggest not holding them?? If you want friendly personable chickens they need to be used to you, and holding them as babies is the easiest way to do that. We don’t hold them much right after hatching to give them time to sleep and accumulate to their surroundings. But holding baby birds is fun.

 

[CluckerFamily]

This is different for everyone.

I personally don’t hold the chicks and all my chickens and the rooster are friendly. I do however sit next to the brooder and talk to them and call them by their names. Because of this, my chickens know their own names and come when I call their own name.

Some people handle the chicks because it is tough not to.

It all comes down with what you want.

 

[mwc0404]

I’m curious Why did they suggest not holding them?? If you want friendly personable chickens they need to be used to you, and holding them as babies is the easiest way to do that. We don’t hold them much right after hatching to give them time to sleep and accumulate to their surroundings. But holding baby birds is fun.

I believe it had something to do with scaring them so soon after being shipped.

 

[theoldchick]

Ain't nothing wrong with holding chicks. The problem is dropping them. Seriously, picking up chicks can be stressful for the chick. I like to sit down with them and allow them to come to me. And if one climbs on my outstretched hand then I'll pick it up. Humans love to cuddle cute things and chicks are cute. Just remember to brush your teeth before cuddling one up to your face. Your bacteria laden breath can cause problems to a not-so-healthy chick. Washing your hands before and after is also recommended. You should have seen the biohazard suit I had to wear when working at a chicken research facility. I looked like a walking tent. Picking up chicks is okay so long as it is not done too often as the chick needs to get on about being a chicken. Just remember, chicks who are familiar to humans can get aggressive when they mature as they don't have the respect that non-tame chickens have.

 

[mwc0404]

Day 3 ish

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

I believe it had something to do with scaring them so soon after being shipped.

That makes sense. They need time to accumulate you don’t want to stress them too much.

 

[Rysktal]

I'll hold them for a bit while they are fluffy, then I let them be because I want them to remember there are bigger things out there that want to eat them.

I found chickens that are handled often have no problem squatting down for predators, instead of running away.

 

[DobieLover]

I raised my last batch of chicks in the built in brooder in my coop. Once they were 3 weeks old, I started opening the little chick doors so they could mingle with the bigs. I'd sit on a block in the coop the first several days and they would fly up on me and hang out on my legs.
They continued to do this as they matured but stopped when they fully integrated with the flock.
They were about 7 weeks old here.

This will help them gain confidence that you won't hurt them.
When they come into lay, they all get stand-offish.
I hand feed my flock a handful of raisins each morning. They all know the routine and will start flooding back into the coop as they hear me finishing up cleaning the poop boards. I've even won back the trust of my rooster doing this. It's been over a year since he last flogged me and he never tries to intimidate me any longer. I trust him without hesitation and no longer have to watch my back with him.
I can now at least stroke the chest feathers of all the hens and pullets without them running off. That is more than I ever wanted from my flock.

 

[mwc0404]

I raised my last batch of chicks in the built in brooder in my coop. Once they were 3 weeks old, I started opening the little chick doors so they could mingle with the bigs. I'd sit on a block in the coop the first several days and they would fly up on me and hang out on my legs.
They continued to do this as they matured but stopped when they fully integrated with the flock.
They were about 7 weeks old here.View attachment 2510080
This will help them gain confidence that you won't hurt them.
When they come into lay, they all get stand-offish.
I hand feed my flock a handful of raisins each morning. They all know the routine and will start flooding back into the coop as they hear me finishing up cleaning the poop boards. I've even won back the trust of my rooster doing this. It's been over a year since he last flogged me and he never tries to intimidate me any longer. I trust him without hesitation and no longer have to watch my back with him.
I can now at least stroke the chest feathers of all the hens and pullets without them running off. That is more than I ever wanted from my flock.

That is awesome!