My little shadow

[Lizzil]

I was wondering how long the phase of chicks being so needy lasts. I understand it's a good survival instinct to follow Mom... But ug. My little chick has been with me for two weeks, she's three weeks old. Birdtrude is a house chicken, so is almost always with me. She will do the "panic chirping" if I'm not in her sight. Its heartbreaking and I'm doing ridiculous things like setting a tray of dirt with seed and meal worms mixed in on the bathroom floor to entertain her while I'm showering. I'd like to be able to run upstairs and grab something without her shrieking.
Please tell me this only lasts a few weeks and she will calm down soon and be a little more independent. It's cute and all but I don't want a bird that's full grown having a meltdown because I went out to lunch.

 

[Peeps61]

Unfortunately, chickens are social animals, so until she gets some company, OR she gets to be a few months old when she would normally be weaned from her momma, it's going to continue. She views you as her "flock" right now, so .......

 

[azygous]

The good news is that chickens, when deprived of a natural flock, will bond with any animal that is willing not to eat them.

I've known a rooster who bonded with a basset hound and they slept together in the dog house in the yard during summer, and the rooster slept inside the house on a file cabinet during the winter, watching TV with the human family from the back of the couch.

You might get your chick a kitten or puppy, or a baby bunny since rabbits do well with chickens, or if you're in the country, goats love chickens.