well i have now got 2 babys from my frankies first batch and i know it is important to handle the babys to get them used to you and to be able to clean the nesting box but how soon should you start to handle them. my eldest is now 2 days old. i have a newly hatched babe in there aswell.

 

please can you help me???

I didn't handle mine until they were feathered (about three weeks old).

yeah I didn't handle them until around that age too, the youngest was around 2-1/2 weeks when I really started to touch them. I didn't think it was safe to touch them when they were still bald.

if i need to handle them i do it after they are a few days old

my budgies dont seem to mind and it doesnt harm the babies...

you just have to be EXTRA careful..

I handle after about 5 days. Mum of course screams her little head off and I have been "bonked" on the back of the head by the father flying back and forth to beat me off.

 

Why handle them so soon? Mainly to check them all over and see they are okay. I don't hand feed and prefer to leave it to the "instinct and nature" of the parents - though it can cost you chicks.

 

But that said I saved a dehydrated one once who was not getting enough from Mom and just needed a drop of water to get back in the food fight.

I'm probably stating the obvious here, but do make sure that your hands are nice and warm before handling very young chicks.

It's something quite elementary but easily overlooked.

wow. i never even thought of that! so common sense, though. i wish i could fin a yellow hen to breed chiisai. he's so sweet.

Ive found that I can hold the babies as soon as theyre hatched, but it really depends on how well the mother trusts you. I know someone that couldnt handle the babies until they were out of the box altogether otherwise the mum would stop feeding them. But this isnt the case for me. The mum doesnt mind, but just make sure your hands are warm when you handle them and be VERY gentle...

I never handle the babies until they have a lot of spikey feathers, usually 2 1/2 - 3 weeks. I think they feel gross before then anyway! :bluebudgie: