How can u help these very needy light brahmas?

[Smileybans]

I have two three week old light brahmas. I think a boy and a girl just by the way they act. I’m going to keep both but they’re very needy. At night when the lights in their room go off, I have grow lights in there for my plants that they also sun bathe under, they freak out. The lights are on a timer. To turn on when the sun comes up and go off when it sets. They start cheeping like crazy, so loud, until someone goes to sit with them. They have a brinsea heat plate and stuffies that keep them company. The stuffies are under the heat plate and they roost on them. They also have a mirror. But it doesn’t seem to be enough. They want a person to sit with them. I thought they were cold at first but the room stays at 80F and they have the heat plate. Anything I can do besides sit with them all night?

 

[Cebarmlds]

I think 80 to 90 is too warm for them at 4 weeks. Decrease the heat. If there is a heat plate they will go under it if they are chilled.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It's probably the fact that lights suddenly go out. They should calm down eventually, it's just a sudden change and they can't see well at all in the dark, so they may not be able to find the heater easily if they were far out in the brooder

 

[AntiqueB]

I had the same problem, but was too soft to let them cry it out!

I would move the entire brooder (a storage tub) into the hallway, which was darker than the living room, but not completely dark. I'd let them snuggle on my arms until they fell asleep, then would gently put them back in the brooder. They'd generally wobble over to the heating plate, and fall asleep again. I also kept a cardboard piece on top to cut down on light.

It sounds like a chore, but they were so cute. They vied to snuggle in my elbows, too. In the end, it worked out, because it was really easy to transition to the coop. They'd still snuggle, and I would just put them on the ramp, and in they went.

 

[Tonyroo]

Is there a way you can shut the heat off in the room there in. At 4 weeks there almost fully feathered and don't require ambient air to be in the 80's since you still have a heat source for them. I would keep there room on the cool side.

 

[Smileybans]

It's probably the fact that lights suddenly go out. They should calm down eventually, it's just a sudden change and they can't see well at all in the dark, so they may not be able to find the heater easily if they were far out in the brooder

That’s what I thought it was too at first. So I left a heat light on for them instead of the heater and they got more upset. Maybe because the light was new they got upset? They seem to calm down if I leave them. But it takes so long. And when I hold them they do a snuggling thing with their head into my elbow. Are they looking for a place to hide? I’ve had other chicks do this and couldn’t find an answer for it even with those chicks. I just assumed it was to get under the hen.

 

[rascal66]

They're so cute love when they snuggle.

I'm thinking it's the change that upsets them. They should get used to it. They seem to be feathering nicely. I think anything higher than 80degrees might be too hot, since many of their feathers are starting to come in already.

 

[Smileybans]

They're so cute love when they snuggle.

I'm thinking it's the change that upsets them. They should get used to it. They seem to be feathering nicely. I think anything higher than 80degrees might be too hot, since many of their feathers are starting to come in already.

They are super cute. Im loving this breed more and more. They’re the snuggliest chicks I’ve had. My only other experience is with EEs, OEs and some silkies but these guys are the loviest so far. I got them for my husband because he kept trying to hug my EE roo Fuzzy. Fuzzy hated it. These guys will jump into your lap to snuggle the second you walk into their room.
I’m actually surprised at how fast they’re growing. I kept hearing how slow to grow brahmas are but these guys are feathering the same as my other chicks did. I closed the window I had open for them but will crack it again and see how they fare. Thank you.

 

[Smileybans]

Heating plates rule. It's pretty adorable they won't let you leave. You should get them a little nightlight with your face on it--problem solved!

That is such a cute idea! I have a doc mcstuffins one that my kids had. The chicks did not like it. Maybe if I built a scarecrow full of heating pads, that isn’t totally flammable, they would love it.

Do you think that there's a way to have the lights gradually dim? Definitely crack the window or open it more, if it has a screen.

I wish there was a way to dim them but I don’t think there is. They're on a plant timer. And I don’t know of one that dims gradually. Although I never looked into it. I will now. I cracked the window today and we will see if it helps tonight. There is a screen. Otherwise I wouldn’t open it at all. The room is on the second story and I would never forgive myself if one of the chicks fell out of the window because of me.

 

[chickenhappy1233]

the bird on the right is a cockerel and the other is a pullet. i agree with @JacinLarkwell about the lights