This week we bought a buff orphington and an austrolope. (We are first timers and planned to get three chicks). We've had these two for 4 days and just added a final Barred rock chick to the mix. I had researched and asked the store, and it seemed that it would be fine to add the chick at this point. They are all nearly the same age or just a few days apart and getting along well. However, the new chick is constantly chirping and seems to be looking for his old friends from the feed store. My other two didn't react like this when I brought them home. My little newbie Barred Rock seems really stressed. She rarely stops chirping loudly and looking around the brooder. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Did you add the chick today? If so perhaps morning will hold different behavior. I always try to add at least two to the brooder. Are the other chicks staying away from the new one? If your new one is not included in then yes she may be lonely. Again morning may hold different things.
Don't fall into the trap of projecting your own emotions onto this chick, thereby missing the true problem it may have. At this age, they haven't had time to form deep bonds with other chicks, certainly during the first week of life. As a general rule of thumb, you can expect no real bonds or alliances between baby chicks during the first three weeks, maybe four. So, the chirping is likely signalling some sort of physical distress. The first thing to cover is dehydration. Make sure this new chick is drinking properly. Scoot it up to the water and dip its beak. See if it continues to drink. You might mix up a little sugar water for it in case it is suffering a little shock from the move from the feed store. Many of us old timers here tout Poultry Nutri-drench for chicks during their first week or two to make sure they have the nutritional boost they need to properly launch. It will correct any shortage a chick might have due to slow development, causing improper assimilation of nutrients from its food. An undiluted drop alongside its beak will perk it up, and a Nutri-drench weak tea for the water bottle will continue to dispense nutrients to all three chicks. Check the chick's poop. Check it's butt for pasting up. Clean if necessary. This is very common when a chick comes right from a feed store where they may have suffered a chill. If it has pasted up, it could be constipated. You need to watch it for a five minute stretch and see if it struggles to poop, chirping in pain as it strains, and if the poop is small and very dry. Compare it to the other chicks. Treat for constipation by giving it a little mineral or coconut oil. You can learn a lot about the needs of your chicks by just sitting and watching them. Happy chicks are active and quiet. Unhappy chicks are the opposite.
Thanks for all of the thoughts, input and advice here. The chick is eating and drinking and is pooing like the others. However, it continues to be unhappy as it's chirping loudly. From what I see, the other chicks aren't leaving it out, it simply is far more active and unhappy or not content. I'm hoping that indeed things might be better in the morning. I will also watch for any health issues in case I need to address those as well.
