Imprinting

[silkielover5]

I know a lot of people don't think chicks can imprint on people but a few years ago my class hatched 30 chicks my family took home 15 of them. When they were 2 months old they started killing each other we tried putting tar and other stuff on them but it didn't work so we had to separate them. Each one had its own brooder. I felt bad for one because she was a sweetheart so she slept in my room, she followed me everywhere and If I got to far away from her she would start chirping and jump and glide onto my shoulder. If i wasn't there she wouldn't eat or shut up lol my parents weren't to happy about that while I was at school. She slept on my lap but when she got older she started to care less about me and turned into a wild and aggressive bird.
I hatch chicks hatching now and my teacher wants me to try it again as a experiment. How would I bond with these chicks without letting them get to cold away from the lamp? And ideas?

 

[MadamContrary]

Depending on the room temperature.you could always just snuggle it into a hoodie worn backwards(hood makes a great little carry pouch). I have not done this with chickens only rats. But, the theory is that they feel safe and warm and get used to your smell. If too chilly in your house a heating pad on low in your lap should be sufficient for keeping the chick warm, they regulate their own body temperature so if it's too warm it will get off the heat. From what I have read about imprinting in chickens, they will imprint on the first large thing they see. I have also read that it is possible for a chick to imprint within the first four days. I have one chick who I had to give a bath right after hatching because it had a large piece of membrane stuck across the vent area, that chick is the sweetest thing and it follows me, roosts on me, and huddles on my feet whenever he can. All I have to do is pat my lap and 3 of six of my chicks hop up for a cuddle. So I think it may not be a true mother hen/chick relationship but they definitely bond strongly to you if you have early interaction with them. Sounds like an interesting experiment with lots of variables.