Is chick cherping for attention or just likes hearing herself?

[newchickmom09]

Well our chicks are 6 days old now there are 7 of them all together in there brooder. Our yellow Easter Egger has started this new thing the last two days. Once everyone is in bed and the lights are turned off she starts cherping LOUD like there is no tomorrow. The first night I kept getting up and checking to make sure no one was hurting or pecking at each other. Nope she was just standing in the corner of the brooder by the door by herself cherping while everyone else is sleeping. I would talk to her then go back to bed. I did this like 10 times it seemed like. Then yesterday she started doing it during the day, cherping loudly by the door until someone stood next to it. But last night was the worst she cherped so loud I couldn't sleep.

Is she just wanting our company, I figured she would be just fine because there are 6 other chicks with her?

 

[fhdogs]

I'm no expert, but... do you have a light in the brooder for heat? If so is it a red light, or clear?

I had two brooders going at the same time, and the chicks I had a clear light on never seemed to sleep, or quiet down. The ones with a red light slept at night, and were active during the day. I got a second red bulb as soon as I could, but in the meantime I swapped lamps each day, and whichever brooder had the clear bulb never seemed to sleep.

 

[JessaLynn]

Is it eating and drinking ok? I had that happend before with a chick (called it Chirpy) but sadly it ended up dieing a few days later.I don't think it was eating or drinking well and I also think maybe the stress from being shipped was to much for it.Add a feather duster in the brooder for it to find comfort.It mimicks mama

 

[newchickmom09]

fhdogs~ we have a red light in there.

JessaLynn~ Actualy she is the piggy of the bunch. She eats and drinks and runs everyone around all day. A feather duster or balanket might be a good idea. She is fine and content when I am sitting next to the brooder, just a while after I leave she acts up. As far as I can tell she is very healthy, no pasty butt, she poops fine, eats, and drinks.

 

[ChooksChick]

I had one like this that bonded with me more than the others. I spent a LOT of time with them, as I like lap-dog chickens.

We nicknamed her Shrieky because she was so shrill and loud. She did get over it when I quit rewarding the behavior with my presence...she had really conditioned my response, and the positive reinforcement worked on me, sadly...

If you can toss in a feather duster and ignore her crying, you ought to get her to quit after a bit.

 

[newchickmom09]

ChooksChick ~ I was thinking that I probably was making it worse. It is just so sad to hear her and know if I just sit there for a moment she is happy again.

 

[ChooksChick]

Ok- I'll be really honest and show my 'sucker' side...


I am super empathetic and soft-hearted and can't help but want them to feel the love and care momma would give, so mine are in a rubbermaid tub on a piece of fake-fur, with a little cave made out of fake fur they can go into that's like being under the mom...

The fake fur is great, because you can just shake out most of the poo to clean it, and I have a few on hand to just swap them out to wash occasionally.

It's just my opinion, but I feel like they are happier for having an environment that's closer to what a soft, fuzzy mom would feel like.

My babies aren't as shrieky as the previous batches were...so I think it works!

Once in a while there's a baby that really bonds, though, and that's hard until they learn to focus on their chicken friends, not the 'Momma' person.

 

[newchickmom09]

ChooksChick ~ thanks, I bet your chicks love it. If she doesn't calm down then I'll find something to put in there with her.