Tiny Chicky

[Lightning Bug]

Hello All!
I was wondering if anyone has had a new hatchling imprint on them or their "hands" as our latest straggler has done? She was the last to hatch out of 20 mixed ameraucana eggs, and being the last she was a little gimpy. Rounded toes and folded little feet; and had a hard time standing upright. She would fall over backwards at times. But otherwise a pirky little chick! Having said that, i assume that the extra handling has made her imprint on us, and she is now inconsolable unless she is sitting in my, or my daughters hands!!!
How long do you beleive she will think we are her mother hen, and how (if) we can un-imprint her! She's adorable, but in the same sence you cannot leave the brooder and her little (loud) cry echoes out for you!!!!!

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

It seems as if she is just testing you each time up you go to get her she is testing to see if you will come and get her so if you can just go outside and get away from her so you can't hear it then she should stop by the end of the day realising you arnt coming to get her. And it's odd for a chicken to imprint I have never had one do that and I handle them more than anyone else. But my mom is doing that with our baby turkeys so they chirp and chirp when no one is holding them. But anyways welcome to BYC I am glad you could join us make yourself at home. And ask as many questions as needed.

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - you have some great advice already so I'll just say hello!

All the best
CT

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us! Does she share the brooder with the other chicks? If so, she should settle down soon enough. My guess is she got a bit "spoiled" with being held all the time, as babies do, and will cry for more attention and cuddles when left by herself.

 

[Lightning Bug]

Hey chicken clan, all the advice is good, and everything i was thinking too, but, if you've ever watched a mother hen with her brood; the hen scratches n picks around and the chicks run over to see what she has, and they climb on her back and hide under her feathers. This little one does all these things but in my hands! She's a little sweetheart, and i feel i cant just lock her in the barn with the others and walk away! She leaves the others anyway and stands at the side of the box crying!!!!

.......lol Ive never had one do this before, so, was just wondering if anyone else has! Ive got a pet chicken!)

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

I wonder if she would grow out of it or if she would think of you as her mother even when she gets older and follows you all over

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[Lightning Bug]

Hello chicken Clan,
Its Jen the mother hen here. Ha ...A while ago(many months) I had introduced yous all to a wee runt chicken named Lightning Bug. She had imprinted on me and my daughter as her flock mates and assumed we should sit with her or carry her around!
Well now, she is six months old and has grown into a beautiful fluffy muffy little ameraucana hen However, she still assumes we are just great to be around. Lightning Bug will come running to see us when she's outside free ranging, or she'll fly up n perch on our shoulders in the coop and refuse to stay with the flock) The rest are very sociable, but Little Bug takes the worm Just an update!!

 

[CuzChickens]

Hello there, and welcome to Backyard Chickens! I am so glad you joined us, I do hope you will make yourself at home here. Enjoy BYC!