help! she thinks she is a cockatoo!

[thndrdancr]

Well
I just got three chicks for the first time tonite around 8. I know absolutely nothing about chicks. I am kind of wondering what to do.

The leghorn pullet I got keeps chirping an chirping (crying and I did everything), until finally I picked her up and cradled her in my hands. Now she is wide awake and sitting on my shoulder and wants constant attention. She cries loud enuff to wake the whole house. I know I shouldn't encourage this type of behavior, but what do I do? I tried having her in with the other chicks, she just kept them awake, and then started pecking on them, so I separated her, put a warm blankie type rag in with her, had food an water with her, I had them on the stove with the hood lights on to use as a heat lamp and she climbed the rag and hurt herself getting out and fluttering to the floor. They are less than 2 weeks old.
She is very content sitting on my hand watching me type, etc. Weird? I couldnt think she bonded to me this soon except I know she is probably really stressed. When I pet her backside, she drifts off to sleep, but good heavens, I need sleep too. I would say she has roosting behavior already, but she is wide awake there on my shoulder watching me type? If this continues, I need to potty train her!
Any suggestions?

 

[justusnak]

Try putting her in her box, with a lid...and a ticking clock..maybe leave the radio on low. Im sure she is just scared being away from the others. I hope she settles down for you...try a small stuffed animals too. She might just want to cuddle something. Make sure she is warm..that could be why she is chirping too. Good luck.

 

[Rooster01]

Make sure they are warm. When I have chicks that start chirping loud at night, I just make sure they are warm enough and there isn't any light on them. Chicken won't sleep if theirs lights on.

 

[thndrdancr]

I had tried all that and more, but I think it was just the scariness of a new place and no 100 chicks runnin round with her, etc.
Today, she wont let me out of her sight, but at least I could join her up with the other two and now I have them warm and sleepy and sleeping.
Ahhh...sleep at last....for Momma! Boy, what was I thinking, guess I didnt want to get any sleep. Ugh!

Question, is it ok for the chicks to run around for about an hour in about a 75ish degree house? They do squall a lot, if I dont for some reason. Right now, sleepy time is in a small box, and run around time is in a box thats plenty big enuff, but my cheeper (and she is LOUD!) wont stop unless she is right there with me, like on my lap, or sitting on my food or somethin. The box just will NOT do. Man, and I give my sis a hard time for spoiling her grandbaby girl! sheesh, here I am doin the same thing with a CHICKEN no less! I am bad, huh?
Jill

 

[cookie_chick]

that sounds my little chickie she sleeps in the laundry at the mo if she chirps we ignore her i guess we have grown use 2 it

 

[BeckyLa]

Have you checked the temperature in your brooder box? For 2 week old chicks the temperature needs to be around 90 degrees for them to be warm enough. Are the other chicks huddling together or crawling up under each other like they're trying to stay warm? I doubt the light in your stove hood will be warm enough. Your leghorn chick need spend most if its time with the other chicks keeping warm and eating starter feed. Since you have trouble keeping it in the box you should put a cover over it.

 

[suburbanhomesteader]

I have a similar situation; my barred rock pullet (4 weeks? not sure how old she was when I got her) follows me around so closely I'm afraid I'm going to step on her, and when I put my hand down to scooch her away, she jumps up perches on my finger!

 

[MoonGoddess]

Ok....now I have chick envy. :|
My chicks barely tolerate me.
*sigh*

 

[farmgirl2477]

I know the feeling Moon...As hard as I try, my Americana chicks dont want much to do with me. My Polish, geesh, I look in that direction and they run. <sigh> Guess they cant all be like my Big boy and ducky (yes, hes a roo)


Definatly check the temp in with your babies!! They need to be kept warm. You might have to get a heat lamp if they arent warm enough. They are pretty cheap. A nice big one with bulbs are under $10.

Shannon

 

[4H kids and mom]

We have the exact OPPOSITE problem that farmgirl and Moon have! We are nearly TRAMPLED by our chicks when we open the coop door! Next thing we know, they are on our arms, shoulders, or even heads! They follow us everywhere and we're constantly worried we're gonna smush someone! If we dont pick them up they peck at us! And its not just us either! They'll go my kids friends, the dog, neighbors...ANYONE! Speaking of....some of them are ready for new homes!

Anybody wanna real friendly chickie?!? lol