Do chicks benefit from a lot of interaction with humans?

[Phililorp]

My wife and I are totally new to chickens. Two days ago we got a straight run of 12 australorps. We pick them up a few times a day to check for pasty butt and to get them used to being held, but we only hold each one for a few seconds. Is this enough interaction for them with us? They seem pretty scared of us every time we get close so we don't want to stress them out (but usually they don't want to leave our hands when we put them down!). Anyways, I don't know if they need to be entertained to avoid developmental disorders or something. Thanks for any advice!

 

[The Happster]

Some people don't interact much with theirs.
I do. I spend a lot of time with them. I let them climb over me, I hand feed them, anything. You don't have to, but it's actually quite nice.

 

[Birdie mom]

i have found that if you don't hold your chickens often they get skittish whenever you do hold them. i hold mine often and they don't seem stressed afterwards provided you don't squeeze then or hurt them. like @OneHappyRooster said it is really fun to hold them.

 

[Gallinarium]

It doesn't bother them if you never hold them, but if they aren't tamed, it can stress them out when you do. A few seconds isn't really enough to get them used to you, but it's a start. Try offering them food in your other hand, and holding them long enough to give them each a couple good pecks. There's nothing wrong with bribery.

 

[My2butterflies]

I think overall it’s better to get them used to you while they are chicks so you can handle them as adults without stressing them. My kids and I hold, hand feed, and talk to our chicks/chickens on and off throughout the day. My 15wk olds will come when called and let me pick them up. I love it. Haha.

 

[centrarchid]

It depends on nature of the interactions. Those I handle extensively are done so where they approach me and even come to perch on my when a signal given it is time to do so. Others handled very little, yet very much effort put into not startling them. Grabbing birds trying to avoid you on a repeated basis is a is not ideal.

 

[Ryguy3684]

I handled mine, from day 1. I hand feed them, and stay down on the floor to let them hang out on me. Like others said, it won't hurt them to be without human interaction, but spending time with them can only help to make them like being around you. It also depends on why you got chickens. I got mine for eggs and pets, so I want them to enjoy being around me. If I were going to raise them for slaughter, I, personally, wouldn't want to get that attached to them.
When you pick them up, try not to grab them from above, rather slide your hand under them, from a low position. Snatching them from above will trigger a predator/prey response, and they are likely to run away.

 

[Missbc]

Adding to what others have said, I find that when they’re ready to fly a bit, sitting there quietly will result in them flying to/on you. Treats don’t hurt either. With my last batch of chicks, I could put my hand in their brooder (while I was sitting) and one or more would jump up, even before they were ready to fly.

now that they are hens, there are still a couple that will fly up to sit on me when they are out in the yard with me and I’m sitting down. The others will let me pick them up (really they step on my hand/arm if I put it in front of their breasts).

 

[Greystone farm]

In my opinion, interaction is very important. All chicks will be a bit freaked at first around people, I mean, we're like giants to them. But holding chicks often really helps to tame them, which can save their lives if they get attacked and go into shock. When I raised my flock, I held them for an hour or two a day and now they are great pets! But if yours are more for production, then it isnt as important.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

I'm sure there are pros and cons to both sides! I've seen people say "hold them a lot and they'll get used to it" while others say "don't handle them too much or they'll be stressed." I was pretty mild with it at first, then they started roosting on my arms when I reached in. I tried to handle the more skittish ones every so often, just to pick them up (hand under their belly) and hold, set down while calm. Some of our chicks are absolute love bugs, some prefer to roost on me but not be pet, one absolutely doesn't want any involvement with me. They're all different and you'll figure out a good cadence!

Depending on if you're free ranging or not, you might want them to be a little flighty. Personally I am in the "chickens as sort of pets" category so I just hang with them outside when they're out of the coop.