Non-stop distress call

[TLynnP]

I have 2 EE's who are the same age along with 3 other chicks also all the same age - 2 weeks. The one EE is the largest of the group and the other is the runt of the group. The runt cries most of the time. S/he (not sexed) eats, drinks, runs around, poops and sleeps like the others. S/he does the happy chirp when eating but will cry non-stop most of the day. If I pick her/him up s/he quiets down. I don't know what to do. S/he does stop at night (thankfully) when all are sleeping together. Please help!

 

[jbly2014]

How long have you had them?

 

[TLynnP]

They were 2 days old when I got them and I have had them for 2 weeks. The crying started about a week ago. My avatar is a pick of this particular chick from 2 days ago.

 

[Malibu99]

I have a runt who does the same thing. It sounds like she imprinted to you, and thinks of you as her mother. She's probably calling to you. It's an instinct for when chicks get separated from the hen I'm not sure exactly what to do either... I think it's something you kind of have to wait out. Is s/he too cold/hot? are the others preventing her from eating/drinking?

 

[TLynnP]

S/he doesn't seem to be cold or hot. The others do let her eat and drink and sleep with her. It doesn't matter where in the brooder she is, food, water, heat lamp she'll cry unless eating or sleeping. She does get a lot more cuddle time with me just so I can have some peace and quiet.

 

[Malibu99]

Sounds like she's just bonded to you. She will grow out of it eventually

ETA- another thought is, does she have pasty butt?

 

[pawtraitart]

I have 2 EE's who are the same age along with 3 other chicks also all the same age - 2 weeks. The one EE is the largest of the group and the other is the runt of the group. The runt cries most of the time. S/he (not sexed) eats, drinks, runs around, poops and sleeps like the others. S/he does the happy chirp when eating but will cry non-stop most of the day. If I pick her/him up s/he quiets down. I don't know what to do. S/he does stop at night (thankfully) when all are sleeping together. Please help!

When I first started raising turkey poults, I was so happy with them I accidentally caused them to imprint on me. NEVER AGAIN! They would cry all day and night begging me to put my hand in their brooder tote for a cuddle. I have since learned to not let turkey poults imprint on me. I feed them, water them, clean their tote........and stay away and let them be turkeys. LOL

 

[TLynnP]

Thank you for all the replies. I have to agree that I think she has imprinted on me. Not sure this is a good or bad thing but I will have to wait out the cries. I was a little concerned because I started with 7 chicks and now have 5. One of the ones that died did the crying thing before it passed and I was concerned I was going to lose another one.

 

[TLynnP]

Unfortunately Little Miss died this afternoon.

 

[gander007]

Unfortunately Little Miss died this afternoon.

So sorry about your loss it is always hard to loose one .....

Just to make sure the rest stays healthy try boiling up some
egg's and remove shell and mash up egg real good and serve
do this twice a day for three days .....