New peachicks, I have questions!

[SJS66]

Well, I sprinkled some on the floor of the brooder when I cleaned it this morn w fresh food and water. They picked at it...then went off to eat. I'll do that every day, I don't have any worms just yet anyway. By the time I do they'll be properly primed, I imagine. Thanks for the input.

 

[Artistickatt]

My younger chicks are 3 weeks right now, and delight in catching the tiny moths that find the way to their brooder light. I think I saw one go for a large mosquito this morning, it was quite a show.

 

[KsKingBee]

June bugs too. They are so proud of their prize, running around playing keep away.

 

[SJS66]

Ok here is another question... peachick behavior. The brooder is out on my porch, I pass it all day coming and going. At night (sometimes the daytime too) when I leave they start peeping and running around like they are upset. They'll do that until they wear themselves out. If I go out there they stop, and stand there looking at me like "he's back..yah!" and they are nice and calm. They'll remain that way as long as I stand there and talk to them or open the door and hand feed them some crumbles in my hand. if I leave they go nuts again.

They are tame, they come right over and peck my fingers or stand there making quiet little peeps...they dont like being picked up, but being close they like.

Is this normal? Are they freaked out that they are out there alone or are they just under the impression I'm their mother or something? Will it traumatize them to be left to run around and peep until they get tired?


I told my girlfriend I'm ready to print a big picture of my face and stick it beside their brooder LOL.


I'm concerned that this is going to mess them up over time, or they'll hurt themselves.

I put a radio out there tonight playing classical music. they calmed down a little, then went back to running and cheeping. they stop now and then to stare at the radio. I dunno if thats a good idea or not.

 

[KsKingBee]

You are mommy, they want to be with mommy. If you are going to be outside for a while, let them come out and they will follow you around the yard. When you put them back they will still peep and carry on but that is normal behavior; that is how mommy finds them when they get lost.

 

[SJS66]

They are too small, the cats will eat them. Once they are bigger the cats wont bother them... the cats have been around baby ducks and hada momma duck beat down lol. But they have never seen peachicks.

That makes sense. They se me several times an hour so yeah I guess I'm mommy now.

The classical music has, the longer they have it on calmed them down a lot. They don't panic when they see me in the window or when I leave now, just normal "hey where did he go?" peeps.... then they go back to doing bird stuff.

They have now learned what the word "bug" means. Say bug bug bug and they stand up at attention to get a mealworm. I hope that sticks with them into adult hood.

 

[Artistickatt]

Sounds like yours are acting the same as mine. If they see me from a far I get the “Mom.. Mom MOM!” occasionally but try not to come running as I have one that likes to do it more than the other. If it is out of the norm I go check to make sure everything is okay. Otherwise, I treat “him” like a two year old kid that I am trying to teach to self-soothe and not come running.They will anxiously come to the brooder door and see me. I want that so that they will come for treats, but I also make. Point to work on the porch with them seeing me and them doing their own thing.

 

[SJS66]

Mine do that too when I open the brooder door... they stand there looking intently at me like... got worms?

I created 4 monsters with the mealworms.. which is good, I have a way to make them run to me if needed. Like our cows I hold out an apple and say "apple" and 1500# of fun comes running at me. The other one we had to raise from a day old baby that had a broken leg (cast and healed fine) and shes now 4yrs old... all you have to do is ask her if she wants a hug and shes trotting to you like a lovesick child.

The music they really like now... it calmed them down quite a lot. The separation freak out now only lasts a few minutes.

Music hath the power to sooth the savage beak.... lol