Loud cheeping

[Veiji]

We have 10 chicks in our brooder at the moment but the ONLY bantam that was the last to hatch keeps cheeping loudly as it shows in the video. I've dipped its beak in water and sprinkled food but it goes under the brooder and cheeps unless I hold it.

Its 80°f in the room and the brooder is tilted so they can choose the right spot.

Is this sound something to be alarmed at?

 

[azygous]

Yes. A loudly chirping chick has a problem. It's your job to find out what it is.

One reason for loud chirping is the chick is cold. Another is that it's constipated. The two can go hand in hand.

Check the heat footprint under the heat source. If there is no heat source, and you're relying on the 80 F room to be adequate as a heat source, chicks under three weeks need a concentrated heat source until they have enough feathers to prevent loss of body heat.

Check the poop. Compare to the other chicks. If this chick isn't pooping, or it only makes tiny drops of very watery poop, it may be constipated. Give it oil immediately. Measure out half a teaspoon of coconut oil and divide into tiny pieces, then chill slightly. Stuff one little piece of oil into the beak at a time until you get it all inside the chick. This should clear any blockage in an hour to eight hours.

The last reason why chicks peep loudly is because they feel isolated and can't see their mates. The chick could be blind. Or spoiled from too much attention from its human.

 

[Veiji]

We have a Brinsea Heat plate that it sits under. We noticed its also picking(grooming?) At itself a lot. It hatched at 2am this morning. Its still having a bit of trouble standing and walking around. I haven't seen it poo yet either.

 

[azygous]

Try dipping its beak in warm sugar water. It will help revive it. It could have had a more exhausting than usual hatch.

 

[doughouse]

@Veiji how did this little do? Did you find out what was wrong?

 

[Veiji]

It has stopped doing the cheeping as often.. We got 4 other bantams for it but now the other bantams do it as well.

We turn the bedroom light off for bed, they cheep for a bit then go to bed. We don't change the water in time. Cheeping.

I was wondering if theyd do it as a way to throw a chicken fit. The bigger chicks and the silkies are all mellow but its just these three bantams that do it.

 

[azygous]

Chicks are like human infants. They make their needs known very loudly so someone will pay attention. Satisfy these needs and the chicks quiet down. It's not rocket science.

After they get a few weeks into their little lives, they learn how to boss us around to get what they want. Not need. This is where you remember you're smarter than a chicken and figure out needs from wants. Just as we do with two year-old human toddlers.