Hello Everyone! It has been some time since I posted, but I always keep up by reading. We recently had some babies hatch (4 so far 5th due soon). I have read from some sites that you should wait until handling the babies until about 2 weeks old, but I have read else where that they are strong and can be handled after 1 day. What do you suggest for handling the babies? The oldest is 1 week old. The youngest is a day old. We were going to clean the nest box out after the last baby hatched because it really is starting to get gross. I am just curious what your thoughts are for handling age. Thanks.

Edited June 6, 200816 yr by Shamrock19

Alot of breeders will handle babies from day one. I try not to at that age, only because I feel my fingers are too big and clumsy and as long as I can see everything is okay, I leave them alone. But there isnt an age limit, you can handle your babies whenever you feel comfortable I think. I havent had any hens have a problem with me handling their babies, and as you can see from Rah's fabulous post, she is actually hand raising her baby from day one!

I handle my babies right from the beginning. Its the best way to see that all is well with them and also to get them used to humans. Works for me.

I am the same as Kaz

okay. Thanks. I definetly want to handle them because I want them to be hand tame. Everything seems okay, but I agree a quick look over will make sure everything is okay.

Hey Shamrock13,

 

Congrats on the hatching, i love hearing them chirp.....

I handle the babies from birth, you need to not just for the bonding and taming purposes

but for their health, checking that they are feed, no air pockets, that food hasn't gotten stuck in their beack

removing of poop, etc - also when changing the nesting materials ....

You have a fun journey ahead of you, Enjoy and all the nest .....

 

regards

A good article to read..... http://forums.budgiebreeders.asn.au/faqs/i...light=care%20of

Thanks for the information and the link. I will definetely be doing inspections of them everyday now. Just one question when you pick them up do you just very carefully pick them up with a few fingers and place them in your palm? I just want to be careful because they are soo tiny.

Thanks for the information and the link. I will definetely be doing inspections of them everyday now. Just one question when you pick them up do you just very carefully pick them up with a few fingers and place them in your palm? I just want to be careful because they are soo tiny.

They are rubbery little things but very resilient...their parents step all over them and they survive that, so dont be timid about it. You wont hurt them.

I start handling them from a week old but I check on them and turn them over with my finger from day one to make sure everything is okay. I am too nervous to actually take them out at day one after I dropped one from my last clutch (it's okay though)

I start taming my chicks once they start to get feathers - I dont like the feel of them before that! I usually bring them up inside and handle them one at a time for about half an hour morning and night. If you do this daily till they are weaned you will have very tame birds!!

Alot of show breeders handle from day one cause they have to check the leg ring. it came become encrusted and tighten around the little birdies leg, but if you don't have leg rings then not an issue.

Legrings dont go on the chicks from day one, ....daily checking is more about checking crops for signs of feeding, checking colour of chick, checking their abdomen for signs of discoloration ( indicating illness ), checking to see their is no caked on builkd up of food across the nostrils etc. Later on when chicks get poopy legrings needs checking too as AV has stated.

Ignore me, I was talking about handling from the day the leg rings go on not from day one but I can't type... that for picking that up Kaz.