Chick died, now survinving one won't stop chirping loudly

[sayccrn]

Install a mirror. Tie it up well so doesn't fall on the chick. Good reason to always purchase 3 chicks just incase you loose 1.

yup did that, It's working for the two new ones, but it didn't for her until I got her two little sisters.

 

[swimmy44]

Hello guys! I am new to chickens. I just got my first two about a month ago, and got two more chicks on Thursday. Yesterday, the one baby chick just up and died. Now, the surving chick is besides herself. I've tried everything. The two older chicks are outside now during the day. What finally got her to sleep last night, was a little stuffed animal and two of the air activated hand warmers, and a heating pad under her side of the brooder(which is a chewy box). But now, a new day, and her older sisters are now outside (we live in GA and it's low 80's), she's chirping loudly again. She has the same heat sources, I think she's just lonely. and wants to snuggle, cuz she'll stop when I hold her, but we've got two cats and I can't hold her all day. Plus, I feel like I will hurt her, or she will wiggle and be dropped. I tried taking her outside, but all she wanted to do was be next to me. I knew it wasn't warm enough, but I thought she missed her sisters, and it's really warm in the sun here. Even though they are separated in the box with hardware cloth, and the bigger chicks are actually afraid of her. I tried to find another chick yesterday, but no luck. I drove an hour only to find out I had to buy 4, my closet is not big enough for 4 more. I am going back to the place I got them tomorrow to see if they still have some from her batch, so I can get her a snuggle buddy, but if they don't I will have to wait for their next batch on Thursday. If I have to wait til Thursday, I was going to get two more. But what can I do for her til then? Is there anything else I can do to help her? It's just heartbreaking.

She needs a small flock, one or two more - chickens do best in threes - but be careful integrating the newbies since an older chick will peck the babies.

 

[sayccrn]

Yes, I know, she has 2 older sisters that are afraid of her and now two younger sisters that are all getting along swimmingly.

 

[sayccrn]

as you know the older chick is about week older. She is outside now since it is 87 degrees, for the first time. she is with her older sisters, in a shaded chicken tractor. she is chirping louding again and so are her younger sisters still in the house. Is it ok to bring them outside with her, or should i just give up and bring her back inside to her younger sisters?

 

[Molly Mojo]

We had two silkies and one died. Her sister was so sad. But we thankfully have a bigger flock. They took care of her. It was clear she was very upset and they all cuddled up to her. Even the ducks. They had a kennel that they went into at night to sleep when it was still cold outside. We have cats and that was the best way to keep them safe till they got bigger. You can see little China in the corner and all her brothers and sisters helping her cope. I had no idea birds would get so attached to eachother. Now they are bigger and she still loves to cuddle her family. And they all let her get as close as she wants. I hope your little one can cope and i hope you have luck finding her another sibling to cuddle with. View attachment 2194608View attachment 2194587

Omg! That duck!!!

 

[BunnyEberhart]

Omg! That duck!!!

Yes. The ducks are boys but love their sisters very much. They play with them and keep them from the water. ^_^

 

[BunnyEberhart]

as you know the older chick is about week older. She is outside now since it is 87 degrees, for the first time. she is with her older sisters, in a shaded chicken tractor. she is chirping louding again and so are her younger sisters still in the house. Is it ok to bring them outside with her, or should i just give up and bring her back inside to her younger sisters?

I would just keep them together. She has been through so much.

 

[sayccrn]

Everyone seems to have calmed down now. I held the little baby chicks and then put them back and that was enough I guess to let them know, everything was ok. And she is not chirping anymore and is following around her older sisters. they however still freeze when she is around, but they aren't picking on her at all. so I think it will be ok now. Will keep an eye out on everyone and if they start up again, I will bring her back inside and try tomorrow.

 

[jeanette bettis]

Update: We got a pop up T-storm and it got noticeably cooler, like low 70's, so we brought the older chicks back inside. She quited down almost immediately. I tried to put them together without the hardware cloth separating them and again the older chicks are acting scared of her. She is even trying to hop on the ones back! LOL The box is getting awful crowded already. The first batch is about a month old. I have a nice coop, I built, but it may get too hot in the sun(I have no shade). So, I don't know when I should move the older birds out to the coop. Plus, if I move the older birds out then what about them getting used to one another again? I've also heard that you are to lock them in their coop for a week. I don't think I can do that, it gets too hot here. 2 days ago it was already 87, last summer we had record breaking 90 or above for over 90 days. What's the next best step for them? Oh I also have a PVC tractor run for them, that is what they've been going in during the day, so I can give them shade and have them forage. I tried the new chick today, she just wanted to climb in my lap.

No humidity in California. Amazon has a small fully enclosed pen made of mesh and it has zippers. I use this for my chicks when outside but not in the coop . These are in the doggy dept. Also if you have 2 bathrooms you could use the tub with adult bed pads and a little Timothy grass. they love this stuff, and of course a plate of chopped spinach and strawberries. Fun to watch one grabs a beak full of spinach and her sister chases her around to steal her spinach.

 

[sayccrn]

No humidity in California. Amazon has a small fully enclosed pen made of mesh and it has zippers. I use this for my chicks when outside but not in the coop . These are in the doggy dept. Also if you have 2 bathrooms you could use the tub with adult bed pads and a little Timothy grass. they love this stuff, and of course a plate of chopped spinach and strawberries. Fun to watch one grabs a beak full of spinach and her sister chases her around to steal her spinach.

Thank you! It's odd, I have a nice garden and I've tried to give them beets and carrots, and lettuce and they are scared of it, and just leave it laying there. But I did witness the older chicks yesterday, one had found a nice juicy cricket and was being chased by her sister. It was comical, for sure! lol Last night was their first full night in the coop, the one cried like a baby after we shut her up, the other was fine. It was so sad, but she quieted down in less than an hour. The oldest of the youger chicks is starting to go in the tractor now, since it's 90 degree. But the others are still so small, I am afraid they may try to go under the tractor in low points.