Seperation anxiety

[mossyroo]

My 9 chicks were getting a little crowded in their one rubber tub brooder so I moved 4 of them to a 2nd tub right next to the 1st - they share a heat lamp. The 5 who stayed settled down pretty quickly but the 4 who were moved were pretty panicked for a while trying to get back to their old haunts. It may not have helped that I wanted to try sand instead of pine shavings for bedding and the ones who got moved were in a very different environment. They eventually seemed to settle down and began scratching and investigating the new area.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I just went through the same thing. Three or four days ago I split my chicks. They were almost 4 weeks and outgrowing their pen. (12 of them) I have 4 separate inside cages but one belongs to my 2 1/2 month old, so they were split 3 ways. Since all three cages are various sizes the smaller cage has 3, the next 4 and the extra large has 5. They were not happy. The four that were in the original didn't mind that much though one kept calling to the others. I watched for a while and realized I had to change who was where as three of the ones I moved were going ballistic, so I switched them around. they settled after that. I let them out yesterday to change the bedding and most of them took off back to the original cage...lol. They don't care that they have a ton of space now and more roost area to themselves, they just want what is familiar to them....lol. I've got a couple more larger pens coming for the next split, can't wait to see how that goes. They grow way to fast. I'm hoping I can get at least a couple months before the next split. I can tell you I'll be happy to see spring and finish the coop and run so they can get out there! Hopefully I can rehome the roos as soon as I am positive about them to lessen the amount wintering inside for 4 months!

 

[aart]

Best to get a large enough brooder that they all fit in.......or join a couple(or more) together.
If they are apart for much length of time, they will become separate flocks and you'll have to integrate them back together carefully even tho they lived together before.

 

[mossyroo]

I didn't give them too much chance to form clicks. I kept mixing them up so the same 4 or 5 chicks were not always together. Anyway, they got moved out to the new Big House Saturday. Yesterday I let them out in the run for a little while and they really seemed to enjoy it. One grabbed a dead leaf and had a good rugby match going for a while. At night they get shut in a 4x8x2 box that contains what will be their nest boxes eventually. I have a heat lamp their for them as here in N FL the night time temps are in the 40's right now. Still have to finish putting chicken wire roof on run and work on predator proofing the outside.

 

[aart]

I didn't give them too much chance to form clicks. I kept mixing them up so the same 4 or 5 chicks were not always together. Anyway, they got moved out to the new Big House Saturday. Yesterday I let them out in the run for a little while and they really seemed to enjoy it. One grabbed a dead leaf and had a good rugby match going for a while. At night they get shut in a 4x8x2 box that contains what will be their nest boxes eventually. I have a heat lamp their for them as here in N FL the night time temps are in the 40's right now. Still have to finish putting chicken wire roof on run and work on predator proofing the outside.

That's a good idea!