Separation anxiety from ME at 6 weeks

[CitychickensKC]

I have 3 six week old chicks that I'm trying to transition to their mini coop and run in the big run. They were outside all day but need to come inside to the brooder at night (I don't want to shock them doing an overnight all at once and it's a little rainy and chilly this week). They will not stop distress calling when I leave the room and when I opened the brooder to change the water before bed, they all leapt out and onto me and do not want to leave me alone. As much as I love this and the fact they imprinted on me, I need them to be comfortable being backyard chicks and stay overnight in their coop eventually.

Also, I tried direct integration with the hens but they got pecked a little too much for my liking so they are separated for the time being when they do go out.

Any suggestions??

 

[jonalisa]

Brooder to coop and run is a big transition - for them and for you.
First: I do highly suggest that when you put them in the coop, that you keep them confined in the coop only, for two weeks straight. Coop only, no run. No outside. This will ensure that they know the coop is home and will eliminate any problems with getting the chickens in at dusk. It will also give them one thing to get used to. Trust me, you will never be sorry you did this - especially when dusk comes and they all start heading in on their own!

(I also have had to transition chicks with existing hens. I kept them separated by chicken wire - divided both my coop and run, until the chicks were roughly comparable in size. Then I combined them by letting them all out to free-range. At dusk, I put the chicks on the lowest roost. They were fine from then on.)

When I transitioned my chicks to the coop, I brought them out that morning and hung out with them there, on and off, for most of the day. I would go in the house and leave them for 15min, then 30, then an hour. This was mostly for me - I was a basket case.

I didn't have any light on (there were windows) so I let them experience dusk naturally. If they seem very distraught, you can put a night light in the coop. Help them get on the roost and say goodnight, then leave them and go in the house. Yes, they will cry for a few minutes but they will be fine.
In the morning, go out and see how they are doing.

YOU'LL BE FINE!

PS. I have a $35 wifi camera in the coop so I can always check them on my phone.

Good luck, Mama!

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

They don’t like change, but will be fine after a couple of days! They’re going to be stressed at first and that’s normal.

 

[MissGreenJeans]

I have 3 six week old chicks that I'm trying to transition to their mini coop and run in the big run. They were outside all day but need to come inside to the brooder at night (I don't want to shock them doing an overnight all at once and it's a little rainy and chilly this week). They will not stop distress calling when I leave the room and when I opened the brooder to change the water before bed, they all leapt out and onto me and do not want to leave me alone. As much as I love this and the fact they imprinted on me, I need them to be comfortable being backyard chicks and stay overnight in their coop eventually.

Also, I tried direct integration with the hens but they got pecked a little too much for my liking so they are separated for the time being when they do go out.

Any suggestions??

Just to commiserate, I’m right there with ya. Mine are 5 weeks old and still in the brooder inside. If I hang out with them in the evening, they all want to be on or near me—and then if I leave, there is vociferous mutiny. Their nighttime distress calls break my heart. I’ve decided to try and ignore them in the evenings, hoping that will help….

 

[MissGreenJeans]

Brooder to coop and run is a big transition - for them and for you.
First: I do highly suggest that when you put them in the coop, that you keep them confined in the coop only, for two weeks straight. Coop only, no run. No outside. This will ensure that they know the coop is home and will eliminate any problems with getting the chickens in at dusk. It will also give them one thing to get used to. Trust me, you will never be sorry you did this - especially when dusk comes and they all start heading in on their own!

(I also have had to transition chicks with existing hens. I kept them separated by chicken wire - divided both my coop and run, until the chicks were roughly comparable in size. Then I combined them by letting them all out to free-range. At dusk, I put the chicks on the lowest roost. They were fine from then on.)

When I transitioned my chicks to the coop, I brought them out that morning and hung out with them there, on and off, for most of the day. I would go in the house and leave them for 15min, then 30, then an hour. This was mostly for me - I was a basket case.

I didn't have any light on (there were windows) so I let them experience dusk naturally. If they seem very distraught, you can put a night light in the coop. Help them get on the roost and say goodnight, then leave them and go in the house. Yes, they will cry for a few minutes but they will be fine.
In the morning, go out and see how they are doing.

YOU'LL BE FINE!

PS. I have a $35 wifi camera in the coop so I can always check them on my phone.

Good luck, Mama!

Thanks for this reply, jonalisa! Am in a similar boat, and it was very comforting. I had no idea I would feel this way. I’m starting to have actual anxiety about putting my chicks outside. They obviously can’t live in my house—but I didn’t realize we’d all get so attached. :-/ Am worried about this transition!