Chicks are extremely clingy

[Springchris]

Hello, I bought 3 black link chicks who I would guess are between 2 and 4 days old, from our feed store yesterday and could not get anything done today because they freak if they arent being held. I have adult chickens in my coop outside but they were about a month old when I got them so they were not interested in people. I cant sit and hold them all day. I have to homeschool my kids lol. Help!!! I have tried giving them a stuffed animal, a heating pad, putting them near my fake fireplace for a bit a heat from that. They are only quiet at night when they are ready for bed, otherwise they chirp like they are scared to death if I get up to go to the bathroom or something. Is there a way to baby wear them or something lol. I love that they like me but dang. This is a bit much.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

I brooded a batch of chicks who screamed all day and didn't stop unless I gave them warm wet feed.

And still whined all day afterward...

They were so annoying and weird. They are awesome now though, sweet and friendly. Spoiled babies.

 

[Springchris]

I brooded a batch of chicks who screamed all day and didn't stop unless I gave them warm wet feed.

And still whined all day afterward...

They were so annoying and weird. They are awesome now though, sweet and friendly. Spoiled babies.

I guess if this will make for friendly chickens it worth it but man! This is how I felt when my daughter was a clingy newborn lol. What age did yours get used to you getting up to do things lol

 

[Ruby Rogue]

I guess if this will make for friendly chickens it worth it but man! This is how I felt when my daughter was a clingy newborn lol. What age did yours get used to you getting up to do things lol

My daughter or my chicks?

 

[Ruby Rogue]

They never quieted down! Neither.

Till the chicks went into the coop.

 

[Springchris]

They never quieted down! Neither.

Till the chicks went into the coop.

O lord! Guess I better get used to this for a few months lol. Luckily, my daughter is almost 7 so shes past the clingy stage. Now its just these crazy little chicks haha

 

[Ruby Rogue]

I put my chicks outside at 4 weeks, it was summer though. They may settle, they may need something else.

 

[black_cat]

Do you not have a regular heat source, like a heat lamp or heat plate? If not, get one ASAP- baby chicks need to be warm to survive. As hard as it seems, I think that if you just ignore them for a while, they'll toughen up and stop freaking out when you're gone.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Mine were like that. What helped was the following:

1. Make a "mama heating pad" set up. You can search for info on here, google, or youtube.
2. Make them "chick oatmeal" by mixing water with their chick food. Also refill their water if needed.
3. Herd them all under the heating pad.
4. Leave the room. When they scream-peep for you, yell back at them. I found angry chicken noises, "shut up," and lost-the-gameshow buzzer sounds equally effective . DON'T immediately check on them, since you know they're fine.

Alternatively, you can make a little "travel brooder" in a large clear storage bin with water, food, and heating pad inside. It can go where you go (as long as there's an outlet for the heater). They can see you. Mine figured out quickly who I was and were happy as long as they could see me in the room. For the first week and a half it worked as their full-time house. Now it's just for little visits and they spend most of their time in a larger stationary brooder.

Mine got less clingy after about a week of "training." Now they mainly scream-peep right after I leave or if the dog barks. Now, they peep the whole time they're awake, so they're not quiet, but these are happy little sing-song peeps. I find I enjoy them.

 

[Ryguy3684]

Is holding them and the fireplace the only heat source they have? Chicks that young have to have some type of heat source in their brooder to keep warm. For the first week, they should have a heat source of around 90-95 degrees F. You can drop the temp by 5 degrees every week.