Why do chicks jump into open mouths?

[Jannbo]

I have two chicks with curled toes that have been separated from the others for their own safety, and cause of that they’ve become extremely attached to me. I’ll take them out to handle them and let them sleep on me with my hand over them to hopefully keep them this tame as they get older. I breath out on them to help keep them warm, but every time I do so both of them run for my mouth and shove their heads in. One of them even jumped entirely into my mouth a few minutes ago. What’s their deal with open mouths? My other chicks did it as well before they got more skittish, so I know it’s not just these two. I’m not worried about it, just curious what the reason is

 

[Patiocoturnix]

I have two chicks with curled toes that have been separated from the others for their own safety, and cause of that they’ve become extremely attached to me. I’ll take them out to handle them and let them sleep on me with my hand over them to hopefully keep them this tame as they get older. I breath out on them to help keep them warm, but every time I do so both of them run for my mouth and shove their heads in. One of them even jumped entirely into my mouth a few minutes ago. What’s their deal with open mouths? My other chicks did it as well before they got more skittish, so I know it’s not just these two. I’m not worried about it, just curious what the reason is

I think it’s just dark shelter like your hand and they are just trying to hide.

 

[Prince and Pavo]

Hello!

They probably see it as a warm, sheltered place where they can hide. Young chicks feel more comfortable and safe when they are in a covered and heated place, so it’s likely that they just find a sense of comfort there.

I wouldn’t recommend letting them do this, not only for their safety, but for your own. The mouth is considered one of (if not the) dirtiest places of the body, and you have more germs there than any other spot. Besides the risk of passing germs to them, poultry (and all animals, really) also carry lots of germs and bacteria that can be harmful to humans, some being mildly impactful but others potentially very dangerous.

 

[Jannbo]

Hello!

They probably see it as a warm, sheltered place where they can hide. Young chicks feel more comfortable and safe when they are in a covered and heated place, so it’s likely that they just find a sense of comfort there.

I wouldn’t recommend letting them do this, not only for their safety, but for your own. The mouth is considered one of (if not the) dirtiest places of the body, and you have more germs there than any other spot. Besides the risk of passing germs to them, poultry (and all animals, really) also carry lots of germs and bacteria that can be harmful to humans, some being mildly impactful but others potentially very dangerous.

I try not to, just cause I don’t want them getting hurt doing it or getting their down wet, but sometimes they’re just a little too fast and get their head in for a split second.