Unsecure chicken perches

[egglicious]

I have my first ever batch of chicks. Yesterday after I brought them home one died a few hours later and then another in the night. They were tiny and I think got chilled and shocked from the move to my house.

 

My others are doing really well, but now i'm afraid to handle them. I don't want to scare them and risk losing another. One of the first ones that died was held by me, for a few minutes very gently, a couple hours before he/she died. I wonder if it was just too much for the little thing.

 

I want them to be tame and to imprint to me but I have lost some confidence. I am even afraid to clean their brooder tomorrow though I know it must be done...

 

Any advice/words of wisdom would really help. Thanks in advance.

[chuckmum6]

So long as you are careful whilst handling them, then they will be fine, just keep them warm in you hands (cup your hands around them). You really do need to over come the fear as this will not be helpful when caring for them, if it all proves to much and you don't feel you can cope, I would see if you can take them back to the breeder.

[Redwing]

Sadly chicks never imprint in the way that waterfowl do but they will get used to you in time

 

If I remember correctly the two that died were the same breed? I would say that their deaths may be for any number of reasons but almost certainly not connected to your handling of them - genetic weakness, they could have been from a sick batch, they could have been younger than the others etc... DONT beat yourself up over it whatever you do

 

Healthy chicks are pretty tough little things and will tolerate being handled for a few minutes at a time with no problems just dont take them in to a cold room or outside when they are very tiny

 

Put the bad experience of yesterday behind you, keep an eye on the others in case of illness but please do interact with them and enjoy them and dont worry about cleaning them out just move them to a deep sided bucket while you do this so they can huddle

[egglicious]

So long as you are careful whilst handling them, then they will be fine, just keep them warm in you hands (cup your hands around them). You really do need to over come the fear as this will not be helpful when caring for them, if it all proves to much and you don't feel you can cope, I would see if you can take them back to the breeder.

 

Thanks chuckmum6. There's no way I would take them back. I'm not falling apart or anything, just nervous. I just wanted to know if it could be too hard on them for me to be picking them up. I know i'll be fine and they will be fine, too. It just surprised me when the ones passed because they really seemed fine. Like you said it is nature and just part of life...

[egglicious]

Sadly chicks never imprint in the way that waterfowl do but they will get used to you in time

 

If I remember correctly the two that died were the same breed? I would say that their deaths may be for any number of reasons but almost certainly not connected to your handling of them - genetic weakness, they could have been from a sick batch, they could have been younger than the others etc... DONT beat yourself up over it whatever you do

 

Healthy chicks are pretty tough little things and will tolerate being handled for a few minutes at a time with no problems just dont take them in to a cold room or outside when they are very tiny

 

Put the bad experience of yesterday behind you, keep an eye on the others in case of illness but please do interact with them and enjoy them and dont worry about cleaning them out just move them to a deep sided bucket while you do this so they can huddle

 

Thanks so much. I will be handling them today now that I know it won't hurt them! Just needed to hear that. They are doing great this morning. I really am going to post some pics soon just need to create a flicker account!