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- #31
Hi DuckieLover2014,
The little emoticons (smiley faces, hugs etc) can be found in the displays right above where you would type your reply. You will see a button for Size of your text, little buttons for Bold Type, Italics etc, and then further along you will see a little smiley face. Click on this once and it will bring up a whole range of pictures for you to choose from. Once you find the one you want, simply click on it once. Let me know if you have any issues and I'll try to explain better!
Yes, depression was something I was concerned about too. I contacted my brother this morning and told him I wanted to keep Peepers for a few more weeks until he settles down and recovers from losing his Momma. It seems too cruel to have that happen, and then to be dumped in unfamiliar surroundings with a bunch of strange chickens he doesn't know. And like you said, I wouldn't be there either. That's a lot for a 5 week old chick to cope with.
For now, Peepers is in a separate pen all to himself, which is attached to another pen containing a Momma Hen and 5 chicks who are about 10 days old. These two pens are both within the main coop. The chicks can go in and out under the divide to visit Peepers, but Peepers can't get under it to their side and the Mother Hen can't get to Peepers. I designed it deliberately that way as when I tried to let Peepers in with her she attacked him. At least he has some little friends during the day, but of course they all go to sleep under their Mother, and Peepers is left alone at dusk.
I checked on him last night and he was sitting on the dirt crying. It was so sad! I picked him up, gave him a snuggle, and popped him in the cat cage I have given him to sleep in. It has a blanket in it for warmth, and some soft straw to make it feel like his old nest. I also put some old clothes over the top of the cage to insulate it a bit, as we were very cold here last night. I don't think Peepers knows how to put himself to bed as his Momma always took him to their nest each night at dusk. Tonight he was the same, so again I have picked him up and put him in the nest. He peeps for a while - quite loudly - and makes crying noises, but he calms down eventually. I have to lock the cat door so he doesn't keep popping out again but I get up before dawn and let him out at about 6am, and he eats and drinks then.
So, he is eating and drinking. He was ok this morning - very vocal, but he ate a heap of fresh vegies. I spent 10 minutes patting him and talking to him, snuggled him up to make sure he was warm, and then left for work. He was happy to see me when I got home in the evening, but I think he is ok. It is mainly nights he is upset, I think he gets desperately lonely which is totally understandable. But I guess he has to learn to sleep on his own in a coop, as when he moves to my Brother's farm he won't be getting special treatment, other than food and water and a warm bed. He has to learn how to put himself to bed and cope on his own, so that's why he slept in the coop and not inside with us. All up, I think he is coping as well as can be expected.
Thank you for your concern. It has certainly been a trying time, and I know you will still be missing your little one too.
Krista
The little emoticons (smiley faces, hugs etc) can be found in the displays right above where you would type your reply. You will see a button for Size of your text, little buttons for Bold Type, Italics etc, and then further along you will see a little smiley face. Click on this once and it will bring up a whole range of pictures for you to choose from. Once you find the one you want, simply click on it once. Let me know if you have any issues and I'll try to explain better!
I agree with you. Sweet little Peepers is going through alot. Lost his Momma. Thats alot of stress in it self. I am concerned id he moves to a new place ontop of all this that he may suffer depression, temporarily stop eating, drinking exc..
Sweet little Peeper knows you and used to you at least Peepers has comfort and company there. Did you bring him in doors last night? How did he do through out the night? I hope he didnt suffer loneliness.Did he seem to do ok today?
Yes, depression was something I was concerned about too. I contacted my brother this morning and told him I wanted to keep Peepers for a few more weeks until he settles down and recovers from losing his Momma. It seems too cruel to have that happen, and then to be dumped in unfamiliar surroundings with a bunch of strange chickens he doesn't know. And like you said, I wouldn't be there either. That's a lot for a 5 week old chick to cope with.
For now, Peepers is in a separate pen all to himself, which is attached to another pen containing a Momma Hen and 5 chicks who are about 10 days old. These two pens are both within the main coop. The chicks can go in and out under the divide to visit Peepers, but Peepers can't get under it to their side and the Mother Hen can't get to Peepers. I designed it deliberately that way as when I tried to let Peepers in with her she attacked him. At least he has some little friends during the day, but of course they all go to sleep under their Mother, and Peepers is left alone at dusk.
I checked on him last night and he was sitting on the dirt crying. It was so sad! I picked him up, gave him a snuggle, and popped him in the cat cage I have given him to sleep in. It has a blanket in it for warmth, and some soft straw to make it feel like his old nest. I also put some old clothes over the top of the cage to insulate it a bit, as we were very cold here last night. I don't think Peepers knows how to put himself to bed as his Momma always took him to their nest each night at dusk. Tonight he was the same, so again I have picked him up and put him in the nest. He peeps for a while - quite loudly - and makes crying noises, but he calms down eventually. I have to lock the cat door so he doesn't keep popping out again but I get up before dawn and let him out at about 6am, and he eats and drinks then.
So, he is eating and drinking. He was ok this morning - very vocal, but he ate a heap of fresh vegies. I spent 10 minutes patting him and talking to him, snuggled him up to make sure he was warm, and then left for work. He was happy to see me when I got home in the evening, but I think he is ok. It is mainly nights he is upset, I think he gets desperately lonely which is totally understandable. But I guess he has to learn to sleep on his own in a coop, as when he moves to my Brother's farm he won't be getting special treatment, other than food and water and a warm bed. He has to learn how to put himself to bed and cope on his own, so that's why he slept in the coop and not inside with us. All up, I think he is coping as well as can be expected.
Thank you for your concern. It has certainly been a trying time, and I know you will still be missing your little one too.
Krista
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