Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 11:23 pm Post subject: To touch or not to touch?
Hello all,
My female kak has six eggs in her nest at the moment. Her and the male seem to be doing really well.
I was curious to know - we want to hand raise the birds, or at least get them used to humans, but we don't want to feed them etc - I want to leave all of that up to mum and dad. But I would like the babies to get used to people.
At what age should I start handling the chicks? I know I should only be handling them for a minute at a time, but how often? I am scared to touch them once they've hatched for fear of hurting them.
Am more than happy to just leave them be, but if it doesn't hurt to handle them, then we'd like to do that.
If it is their 1st clutch in that environment....leave them to it.
The idea is to have them developed a very strong sense of security in the nest with u around....
Espec when the chicks are very young
As they developed adult plumage.. the pins start 'sprouting' then check out carefully the nesting box...
Keep in mind lifting the lid, from the inside perspective, means a sudden flood of light.....so consider what u do from their perspective....
About this time and if u have giving them enough confidence up to this point u can become more involved.Watch the body language of the parents
The best time is when the female has gone to the 2nd nesting box and sitting on the next batch of eggs....
We have found that 'hand raising' espec after a couple generations the 'instinct' to look after and raise chicks is significantly reduced... reduced to the point of chicks not surviving.
Also Hand taming, after they have left tthe nest results in far healthier , bigger, far more resilient pets, less prone to psychological and health issues
And with far more character, mental independence
And far less work
Cheers
Steps _________________ My Spelling is Not Incorrect...It's 'Creative'
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