Separation anxiety- from humans?!

[eyralis]

hi! We have two sweet baby chicks at home, about two weeks old. They're doing great, but seem to have decided that people are their flock, and send out the insistent cheeping distress call if we all leave the room!! As long as one person is there with them, they're fine, but within seconds of being left alone, the alarms start.... Has anyone else encountered this? They do calm instantly when they see me. I've had to bring them to my desk during the day!!!

 

[eyralis]

 

[azygous]

When there are so few chicks as you have, they tend to imprint on humans. The way you have them bundled up is cute, and they look very content. You could make a pouch out of a scarf and carry them close to your neck for warmth, and they'd be quiet and content.

Of course they need frequent food and water breaks. And at that very young age, they don't seem to poop much when they're carried in a pouch. I had a very sick chick a month ago that was very unhappy when she was left alo. Carrying her around in my hoody, with the hood up, kept us both happy. She "failed to thrive" and died before her first week was up, though.

 

[eyralis]

That’s very helpful, thank you, I will try that straightaway. And my thoughts and wishes to your little chick. thank you again.

 

[eyralis]

Oh- and will this fade with age, or will they always need to have us within sight? (uh-oh...)

 

[azygous]

Chicks are like human babies and develop self confidence and self reliance as they grow. They're flock animals and prefer the security of being around other chickens. In the absence of other chickens, you are their flock. They will probably always want to be close to you when given the choice, but they'll be able to get by on their own quite nicely as they get older.