Baby Chick is obsessed with me

[-Isla June-]

Yes, we brought home 6. I’m trying to keep her in there but she physically panics. Knocking things over, flying around, getting soaked in water dish, food flying everywhere, stepping on others. I keep putting her in there not wanting her so stressed since she’s barely a week old. I guess it is what it is and maybe there’s nothing else I can do to calm her.

Oh my, didn’t realize it was that bad.

 

[Isadora]

Yes, we brought home 6. I’m trying to keep her in there but she physically panics. Knocking things over, flying around, getting soaked in water dish, food flying everywhere, stepping on others. I keep putting her in there not wanting her so stressed since she’s barely a week old. I guess it is what it is and maybe there’s nothing else I can do to calm her.

How large is the brooder?

 

[-Isla June-]

Oh my, didn’t realize it was that bad.

I have never really heard of this before... I looked it up but there is nothing I could find.

 

[mllrye]

Sounds like you've got an indoor chicken to me. Just gonna have to get some sort of litter box and chicken carrier and see how it goes.

I'm joking, but ugh. I don't envy your situation. What's the longest you've left her to "cry it out"? Which I couldn't ever do with my kids and am sure I couldn't do with a chicken either.

I should know better because I didn’t do it with my kids and they slept with me for far too long! I had a meeting so I left her for an hour and she trashed the place. Everything knocked over and she was soaking wet. Her sisters were annoyed. So I’ve been trying to keep putting her back in there for 30 minutes at a time but the panic sets in after she can’t see me. I had to put a top on there because she kept flying out. I would come into the room and she was walking around.

 

[mllrye]

But at least you can bring your kids on a camping trip

Well at least we would have the freshest eggs possible next summer!!

 

[KRack]

I should know better because I didn’t do it with my kids and they slept with me for far too long! I had a meeting so I left her for an hour and she trashed the place. Everything knocked over and she was soaking wet. Her sisters were annoyed. So I’ve been trying to keep putting her back in there for 30 minutes at a time but the panic sets in after she can’t see me. I had to put a top on there because she kept flying out. I would come into the room and she was walking around.

You're clearly just too lovable. You can't be blamed.

Could you put a chair in there with some sort of doll on it, facing away, and trick the chick? This part isn't a joke, these are the things I'd actually try.

 

[mllrye]

How large is the brooder?

It’s a huge tote and should be fine but maybe I’ll have to try something else. It’s still chilly here in VT and it has crossed my mind to put lamp in coop and try that but I know it’s probably too early.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

I’ve had this happen with kittens before but never a chick. The best advice I can give is to just keep doing what you are doing and leaving her in there for longer and longer amounts of time. Maybe find a way to secure the food and water better so she can’t knock it over. My last resort in your situation might be trying to tape a picture of myself to the inside of brooder and see if she can be tricked. Even for a little while.

 

[mllrye]

You're clearly just too lovable. You can't be blamed.

Could you put a chair in there with some sort of doll on it, facing away, and trick the chick? This part isn't a joke, these are the things I'd actually try.

I’m trying to bribe my chihuahua to sit in there! But hadn’t thought of the doll!

 

[Isadora]

It’s a huge tote and should be fine but maybe I’ll have to try something else. It’s still chilly here in VT and it has crossed my mind to put lamp in coop and try that but I know it’s probably too early.

Just wondering because if she's crashing into things and making a mess it's sounded like maybe there wasn't enough space in there. Not to mention her being able to fly out. You could put some chicken wire across the top so she can't do that anymore.