Flighty chick

[redinator]

Any tips on handling or calming a "flighty chick". I have 5 chicks that will be 3 weeks on Monday. 4 of the five do fine when I handle them, but one wants nothing to do with me.

All the others happily eat from my hand and climb on my lap and two even like being stroked and held.

The one problem chick won't even eat from my hand, he waits for one of the others to take a treat, then he (I'm guessing sex) takes it from them. When I try to handle him he'd rather break a limb than settle down.

I'm on the fence about keeping him because his flighty behavior could just be great survival instincts and he maybe good to keep around to warn the others of danger. On the other hand if he ever gets sick or injured handling him would just stress him out and make things worse.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Some just don't like being handled, held or petted.

I'd leave the chick be and let him decide how much interaction he wishes to have, you have others that don't seem to mind being handled or held.

I see no reason to get rid of a healthy active chick just because he doesn't want to be handled. I've had quite a few flighty birds over the years and if one was sick or needed to be handled for some type of treatment, there's a way to get a hold of them for treatment. If necessary, wait until roosting/dark and just pick them from the roost.
They will be fine once gathered up.

 

[redinator]

Some just don't like being handled, held or petted.

I'd leave the chick be and let him decide how much interaction he wishes to have, you have others that don't seem to mind being handled or held.

I see no reason to get rid of a healthy active chick just because he doesn't want to be handled. I've had quite a few flighty birds over the years and if one was sick or needed to be handled for some type of treatment, there's a way to get a hold of them for treatment. If necessary, wait until roosting/dark and just pick them from the roost.
They will be fine once gathered up

That makes me feel better about the situation, thanks.