HELP! Chick thinks I’m it’s mom

[Kkoleckar]

Ok so maybe this sounds crazy but I swear this chick thinks I’m is mommy! I’ve incubated lots of chicks before and this is a first for me. I had incubated 6 eggs and unfortunately out of all 6 I only had 1 make it. I had to assist this one in hatching and the moment it was out of the shell it’s been up my you-know-what. It’s 3:54am right now and I’ve tried several times to put it to bed in the brooder and not curled up into my neck and hair , however every time I try, it cries, and cries, and cries…LOUDLY until I pick it back up and let it cuddle again.

Before coming to this conclusion/theory on what could be wrong I checked things off the list, otherwise. It’s fed and not hungry, I’ve even given it some egg and electrolytes, has plenty of fresh water and isn’t thirsty, and I’ve ruled out any other health related possibilities as best I can, switched from bulb heat to brooder plate and checked temp was accurate. The chick will be at the side of the brooder literally trying to jump out of it to chase after me as I walk away from it.

As cute as this maybe, it’s just not safe for the chick to be sleeping with me like this, nor is my body temp sufficient for it to stay warm. Any suggestions as to how I can help this situation would be most appreciated!

 

[ksbkeys]

Can you get another chick from your local feed store to keep it company? It is likely very lonely. They need to be with another chick.

 

[Kkoleckar]

Can you get another chick from your local feed store to keep it company? It is likely very lonely. They need to be with another chick.

I have a bunch of chicks right now in different stages/ages all over the place, I think I may have to do this but my partner may question my sanity at that point considering everything we have going on. I thought about taking one from the ones my broody hen hatched a week ago but she is such a proud mama and has kept them all alive this long I just couldn’t do that to her

 

[nuthatched]

Can you slip it with the broody hen? Ir stick it with the other chicks?

 

[ksbkeys]

I have a bunch of chicks right now in different stages/ages all over the place, I think I may have to do this but my partner may question my sanity at that point considering everything we have going on. I thought about taking one from the ones my broody hen hatched a week ago but she is such a proud mama and has kept them all alive this long I just couldn’t do that to her

Until you decide how to proceed, perhaps music from a radio might help.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Get a feather duster and hang it on the side of the brooder, just enough so the chick can crawl under it. I have only done this with a heat lamp so I’m not sure how great an idea it is with a brooder plate (like maybe the chick won’t spend enough time under the heat plate). But it’s worth a shot!

 

[Airyaman]

I also recommend a mirror. My oldest (68 days) spent the first 5 days of its life alone with a mirror and had no problems being put into with a group of newly hatched chicks when they were a couple days old.

I've since used a mirror when there were only a couple of chicks from a hatch and it works great.

 

[Airyaman]

Get a feather duster and hang it on the side of the brooder, just enough so the chick can crawl under it. I have only done this with a heat lamp so I’m not sure how great an idea it is with a brooder plate (like maybe the chick won’t spend enough time under the heat plate). But it’s worth a shot!

They actually make feather attachments for brooder plates!

https://www.amazon.com/Feather-Heat...=&hvlocphy=9012496&hvtargid=pla-2281435177578

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

They actually make feather attachments for brooder plates!

https://www.amazon.com/Feather-Heat...=&hvlocphy=9012496&hvtargid=pla-2281435177578

View attachment 4127147

That is so cool! I never used a brooder plate but if I’d known about this I might have