Baby Chick is obsessed with me

[HiEverybirdy]

You may still visit and cuddle her, but try to treat her as you treat the others, even showing her that the others are as loved as she is. Yes, chickens notice these things.

@azygous is right that chickens notice. It's amazing how much it matters that other birds don't feel like you're picking favorites.

I completely relate to your [adorable, adorable] problem. I'm 100% at our birds' service and will let my limbs go numb before evicting a chicken from my lap. But part of my dedication to them includes creating an environment where birds function successfully as a group. It's good advice to wean her because this is a critical time for forming relationships with her chicken peers. Being singled out or absent from the flock could lead to bullying that worsens with age.

Is she bullied at all in the brooder now, or does she have any obvious health issues like pasty butt that would be causing her to squall so much? If not, it's likely best to let her cry it out for longer and longer periods (the path it sounds like you're taking). And maybe when you have her out with you, have all the chicks out together. Hopefully she'll transfer that attachment to another biddie in the brooder. Best of luck!

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

She goes into brooder to eat and drink but the moment she doesn’t see me she cries.

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 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.

Your sweet little chick is exhibiting classic signs of separation anxiety. Like other animals, birds can experience separation anxiety too. It is somewhat common in parrots and other caged house-birds that don't have other flock members to associate with. The fact that your little chick does have other flockmates will make it much easier to ease her anxiety. Some of what I am going to say reinforces the good advice you have already received from others, but I will offer some other suggestions too.


I would remove food and water from the brooder for now, ensuring she won't panic and make a mess in your absence. Since you work at home, you can return with food and water as frequently as you think is needed. When all chicks have had a chance to eat and drink, remove food and water and step away out of sight again. This can be for very short periods of time at first, as little as 5-10 minutes before you reappear. Each time you reappear, don't look toward the brooder at all; pretend to be occupied by something else in the brooder room. Definitely don't look her way if she begins to chirp and cry for your attention. Gradually but steadily increase the time before you return, ignoring any cries from her. Your goal is of course to leave her, food and water in the brooder full-time without her panicking/making a mess. And though it may hurt your heart to do so, when you give the chicks your attention, at least in the short-term, pick up and hold other chicks before you do her.

I sit with my hand in there but once she’s done eating she wants to be with me.

With your hand being inside the brooder while she eats, she is "with you" even then. A small but important first step would be to remove your hand from inside the brooder while she eats and drinks with the other chicks.

If possible, you might also aim a camera at the brooder so you can see her exact behaviors while you are out of her sight. She is Not too young to have already learned that if she makes a mess, you will dutifully rescue/remove her from the brooder. Neither is she too young to have already learned that if she peeps, cheeps and cries, you will remove and return her to her "rightful" place in your lap, on your shoulder, on top of your head, etc. Pay equal attention to the other chicks. Hold them, remove them for short periods of cuddles same as you do your favorite chick. It might be helpful to spend "affection time" with your favorite chick and at least one other chick together at the same time, so your favorite chick enjoys your company while learning that having other chicks near is a good thing too. (Same as chicks learn with a mama hen.) Just make sure the second chick(s) is never the same one, or you may soon have double trouble to contend with.

There is quite a bit of info on how to deal with "bird separation anxiety" on the internet. Google those search words and you will see. I am linking one article below, since it includes some good tips re how to solve the issue. But there are many other good articles that i think you will identify with, and will help you resolve your chick's anxiety.
https://www.intoyard.com/deal-with-bird-separation-anxiety/

I adore my hens, and I love even more the ones that return their affection towards me. It's wonderful to feel so appreciated and loved. But unless you want a chicken stuck tight to you for the rest of her life, the time to re-shape her behavior is Now. Every day you wait ingrains her dependence and neediness on you, and within a few weeks time she will be rejected by the other chicks, because they will have by then established their pecking order and see her as an intruder. I can guarrantee that seeing her rejected, bullied and shunned by the other pullets will cause you much more sadness than her current cries. So please for Her sake begin to integrate her immediately.

 

[B_Chickle01]

Help! My week old baby chick is a little too attached to me! I love her so much, but she hates being in brooder. She panics, paces and cries if I leave the room. She just wants to be held 24/7. I’m loving it, but I’m going away for a few days at the end of the month and I want her to be ok and not stressed. She’s not alone (we have other chicks) and we put a mirror in there. Tried a stuffed animal. She goes into brooder to eat and drink but the moment she doesn’t see me she cries. I sit with my hand in there but once she’s done eating she wants to be with me. I work remotely and literally work with her on my lap and shoulder all day. I even take her in the car to pick up my kids at school! I tried to let her cry it out but after a while it made me too sad. My husband refuses to let me take her camping with us at the end of the month. Ha! Any other ideas on what I can try?

She’s gorgeous! And stop it. I love the second photo. Like shes ur little assistant

 

[zunruffled]

Hello mllrye, I'm wondering if you've found a way to wean the baby chick off you. I'm having the same problem with one of the four Speckled Sussex chicks I hatched in the incubator three days ago - his anxiety level every time I leave the room is quite worrisome. I tried ignoring his alarmed peeps for up to an hour at a time, but he just won't stop.