A Pillow Case tip to get chicks to sleep

[stillthdiva]

I just discovered a little trick to get overactive chicks to all sleep at once. I received 25 bantams and 30 heavies yesterday and put them in a large Brooder with heat lamps on one end and food / water at the other end. The activity was frantic until enough was enough. I put the Bantams in an old threadbare worn pillow case that is almost see through and they were asleep within seconds. I did the same for the normal sized chicks and those too were fast asleep. I set both pillow cases near the heat lamp and everyone slept through the night. I had to take out just three bantams that were too comfortable to come out in the morning. Everyone else had extracted themselves and were frantically doing their chick jobs. Tonight, I took out another two old pillowcases and they were asleep before I had finished with them. No peeps, just peaceful mother hen like environment to get a good nights rest.

 

[Michaels1715]

Fantastic tip!

I personally use a broody hen for my chicks, but if I ever use a brooder again, I will definitely keep your tip in mind.

Thanks!
~Sharon

 

[BrandonMcfly]

I actually did something similar when I first got my redsexlink chicks but instead of a pillowcase I used an old t-shirt and placed it over them and they fell asleep right away also if you hold them in one hand and cover them with the other they fall asleep right away. But now they're kinda older and doesn't work so much lol my mom said it's because it mimics how the mother hen puts them underneath the wings but I'm not actually sure