I mentioned that we're getting 25 new chicks on Tuesday, and my two preschool boys are VERY excited (especially the 3-year-old!). I'm wondering about handling the chicks. Is it dangerous to hold them (obviously I would seriously supervise my boys at all times)? Here's the thing: I have a serious bird phobia. You might ask why the heck I got a slew of chickens, then! Well, about 10 years ago (around the time when I got attacked by five dive-bombing grackles), I bought a pet parrot to help me get over my fear. It worked out really well. She's in a new home now since we moved though. I figured that if I got baby chicks, and acclimated myself to them as they grew, their scariness factor would be eliminated. Most of our chickens will be egg layers, and so I WANT to get attached to them. I want to be "mama" so to speak. I want them to be very accustomed to handling so my boys and I won't be frightened of them. I realize it's possible that some may be aggressive anyway, but I did try to get varieties that were noted to be docile and friendly.
So, how much physical handling is too much? What's my best bet for them to really get used to me (and me used to them)? Thanks for your input, and hopefully you don't think I'm too batty!
Eileen
Handling Chicks
If you are careful and do not let them get chilled, you can handle them quite a bit. I had a single chick hatch and actually slept for several nights with it on my chest under my sweats. She is very attached now.
Do be careful to wash hands before and after handling though. You can spread things to them (unlikely) and they can spread things to you (not really likely either, but it is good for your kids to be careful).
I don't think your experience makes you batty at all. I think your questions and concerns are well served. Personally I don't like the idea of handling baby chicks at all for the first week. They are fragile and get chilled quickly. After the first week their not quite for frail. When you allow the children to handle them teach the children to keep them away from their mouth. Most kids want to kiss them and put their mouth on them. I think thats a mistake. Secondly Catsy was right on, wash hands throughly before and after handling them. Move slowly in their midst and spend lots of time with them, allow them to get used of your voice as well as the children. Loud noises even loud coughing will frighten them as babies. The more time you spend with them the more time they will want to spend with you. I hope your experience will be positive and even aggressive hens are not much of a problem. I you get roos it's a different situation and inlight of your experience I would not recommend that until you feel totally comfortable with the hens. If we can help you in anyway let us know. Sincerely Haystack.
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We found that our baby peeps didn't like to be picked up... They would flap and peep like they we were going to kill them. Instead we would just sit in the pen with them so they got used to us. As they got older we would sprinkle crumbles on our legs so the would hop up and eat and we tried to keep our hands slow moving to pet them so they wouldn't freak out. Now when we go to visit them they almost fight over who gets to hop up in our lap first.
We keep purell zip tied to the pen and hit it before and after we visit just in case.
Like Hay said we didn't handle them for about a week other than to clean the brooder.
Most of our chicks have been ok about being handled but they like to sit on your hands rather than being actually held. It won't be long before you will notice that certain ones are friendlier than others - just different personalities, (chickenalities?)