Single chick during hatch has separation anxiety

[Fishsticks06]

Hey all,

Going to be concise. I had a bad hatch where I only got one chick. He is two days old. It has imprinted on me and screams bloody murder when it can’t see me anymore. It was fine when it wanted to sleep in the incubator all day after it had hatched but now it is restless and wants to be with me all day. I tried to integrate it with two other chicks that I had bought to keep it company but it does not seem satisfied by their presence and screams when I’m not near it. It doesn’t want to go in the brooder at all. What do I do, please help

 

[The Coop Crew]

Hey all,

Going to be concise. I had a bad hatch where I only got one chick. He is two days old. It has imprinted on me and screams bloody murder when it can’t see me anymore. It was fine when it wanted to sleep in the incubator all day after it had hatched but now it is restless and wants to be with me all day. I tried to integrate it with two other chicks that I had bought to keep it company but it does not seem satisfied by their presence and screams when I’m not near it. It doesn’t want to go in the brooder at all. What do I do, please help

It may be a tough love kind of thing. I would put him in with the others and maybe send someone else to do food and water for a few days so he doesn’t see you. He will adjust.
Although….l’m a sucker and would just carry him around with me everywhere
When we first got our chicks we had one that hatched alone and didn’t have anyone in the brooder with her for the first 24 hours. She was put with others and was very much a loner but has integrated with the other girls beautifully.

 

[The Coop Crew]

Also, just make sure the others aren’t picking on him

 

[Fishsticks06]

It may be a tough love kind of thing. I would put him in with the others and maybe send someone else to do food and water for a few days so he doesn’t see you. He will adjust.
Although….l’m a sucker and would just carry him around with me everywhere
When we first got our chicks we had one that hatched alone and didn’t have anyone in the brooder with her for the first 24 hours. She was put with others and was very much a loner but has integrated with the other girls beautifully.

I do all of the chicken chores and I want the chick to like me, but be able to go without me for a couple hours at time without being frantic. It doesn’t like being beyond 2 feet away from me at all times and will just chirp loudly for hours. He doesn’t give in. As soon as I make my appearance he goes right back to normal. I just want to do right by him and not scare him.

 

[The Coop Crew]

I do all of the chicken chores and I want the chick to like me, but be able to go without me for a couple hours at time without being frantic. It doesn’t like being beyond 2 feet away from me at all times and will just chirp loudly for hours. He doesn’t give in. As soon as I make my appearance he goes right back to normal. I just want to do right by him and not scare him.

I totally understand that. I’m not sure I have a good solution unfortunately. Let me tag some others who may be able to help!
@HollowOfWisps
@TwoCrows

 

[TwoCrows]

I do all of the chicken chores and I want the chick to like me, but be able to go without me for a couple hours at time without being frantic. It doesn’t like being beyond 2 feet away from me at all times and will just chirp loudly for hours. He doesn’t give in. As soon as I make my appearance he goes right back to normal. I just want to do right by him and not scare him.

Some chicks are like this, they become very attached to you and panic when you are gone. I've had many like this over the years, they generally become the lowest in the pecking order too. I never over coddle them, but I do give them a bit more attention so they feel more comfortable. Ignoring them completely makes them worse and for their own mental health, they do need some stability. As she grows she will get less needy, but she may always crave your attention. These types make the best lap sitters/warmers!

 

[Fishsticks06]

Also, just make sure the others aren’t picking on him

Will do. They don’t seem to mind him too much and they’re too busy cuddling each other and staying away from me.

Some chicks are like this, they become very attached to you and panic when you are gone. I've had many like this over the years, they generally become the lowest in the pecking order too. I never over coddle them, but I do give them a bit more attention so they feel more comfortable. Ignoring them completely makes them worse and for their own mental health, they do need some stability. As she grows she will get less needy, but she may always crave your attention. These types make the best lap sitters/warmers!

So how should I go about it? How long should I leave him/her unattended? S/he has 2 other brooder mates, adequate space, heat, food, and water. I’ll try my best to incorporate them in my daily outside life when I water the gardens. I just wrap them around the bottom of my shirt and hold them there while they nap. I’d definitely consider letting it be an indoor chicken if they weren’t so messy and I didn’t have cats

 

[GlicksChicks]

I’d definitely consider letting it be an indoor chicken if they weren’t so messy and I didn’t have cats

I believe they have diapers you can put on chickens

As for your cats, I'm sure they can be trained not to mess with the chick.