Chicks are adorable and taking care of them is exciting.
However, you can become nervous, wondering if you are doing the right thing to keep it comfortable and alive.
The anxiety can worsen if your chick is chirping a lot and you have no idea how to calm it down.
If your chick is chirping incessantly, here are possible reasons why and ways of calming it down.
Why Your Chick Won’t Stop Chirping & How You Can Help
It is Feeling Cold
One of the major reasons your chick is chirping a lot is due to low temperatures.
Most birds are endothermic, meaning warm-blooded and can produce their own heat to keep warm.
However, a chick is too young to make sufficient body heat to keep it warm.
That’s why it needs external warmth to stay warm.
Increase the temperatures of the lamp to keep your chick warm.
It is Too Hot
Too much heat is uncomfortable for a chick and causes it to chirp loudly.
Signs that your chick is feeling too much heat is, if it starts panting or stays on the edges of the cage or brooder for ventilation.
Having a thermometer close by can help you adjust the temperature supply for the chick accordingly.
Your Chick is Hungry
Another common reason your chick is chirping is that it’s hungry.
If it has finished its feed, refill its feeding bowl again.
Chicks develop fast, and they need to be constantly fed.
Ensure they always have food to avoid starvation.
Your Chick is Thirsty
Ensure there is clean water always in the water feeder.
Lack of water for your chick for a prolonged time can be fatal.
So, it’s probably chirping due to lack of water.
They Are Scared
If your chick is chirping while sounding distressed, looking in one direction while squeezed in a corner, it sees something that is scaring them off.
Ensure the brooder is safe, and no enemy can enter to attack the chicks.
Also, ensure pets such as dogs and cats do not scare your chick.
May Be Its Sick
Your bird is probably chirping incessantly because it is sick.
It is probably unwell if it has a faint chirp with eyes half-closed.
If you have more than one chick in the brooder, isolate the sick one and call the vet immediately.
It Is Probably Excited
Your chick could be chirping due to excitement.
For instance, if your chick hears other chicks close by chirping, it will respond with a chirp as a way of communication.
In this case, there is no cause for alarm.
Why Is My Chick Chirping So Much?
It is normal for your chick to chirp.
However, if the chirping sounds distressed and incessant, something is probably wrong.
You should pay close attention.
Here are the common reasons why your chick is chirping a lot.
- It is too hot for the chick
- It is cold
- The chick is sick
- It is hungry or thirsty
- It is lonely or needs attention
- The chick is scared
How Do You Make a Chick Be Quiet?
As discussed above, several reasons make your chick to chirp.
Here are the things you should do to calm your chick down:
Ensure the Temperatures Are Right
One of the reasons your chick may be chirping a lot is due to unfavorable temperatures.
Ensure the temperature is right according to the age of the chick.
Use a Feather Duster as a Surrogate Mother
If you only have one chick, try adding another one and raising them together.
However, ensure the chicks are of the same age and size.
If you cannot find a chick, put a feather duster on the brooder.
The feather duster acts as a surrogate mother or companion for the chick.
It will cuddle with it to calm down.
Ensure Your Chick is Well Fed
Another reason why your chick is chirping a lot is, if it is hungry.
Ensure it has the feeds and water all the time.
Also, ensure you are feeding it a proper diet according to the chick’s age.
Make It Feel Safe
Your chick is probably distressed or chirping a lot because it feels unsafe.
Ensure the brooder is safe to keep any predators away.
Also, ensure family pets and kids do not go close to the brooder or cage as this can scare your chick.
Also, keep your chick from disturbing noise that can distress or scare them off.
Provide Your Chick With Electrolytes
Consider having the electrolytes close by for your chick.
Using electrolytes boosters for your chick reduces stress and instances of falling ill.
That way, your chick will stay healthy and develop well.
How Can You Tell If a Chick Is Stressed?
Other than diseases, stress is among the top poultry killer.
There are different causes of stress for chicks, such as
- Physical stress- caused due to mishandling or transportation.
- Environmental stress- the environment around the chick is not conducive. For instance, it is too cold, too hot, damp, poor ventilation, windy, or too much or low light.
- Nutritional stress- short supply of food or water and shortage of nutrients in the diet.
- Psychological stress- caused due to fear of predators, other pets such as cats or dogs, or being chased by children.
- Social stress- caused due to mixing the chick with older and bigger chicks or overcrowding in the brooder.
You can save your chick from dying of stress by looking at the stress symptoms.
The following are the symptoms of a stressed chick:
- Labored breathing or panting
- Pale combs or wattles
- Lifting wings upwards or away from its body
- Lethargy
- Diarrhoea
- Seizures or convulsions
Wrapping Up
Chirping is normal for chicks.
However, if your chirp is loud and sounds distressed, then it probably is.
Check on your chick, it might be hungry, sick, feeling cold, it’s too hot, or its scared.
Ensure you can tell whether your chick’s chirp is a call of distress or just a normal chirp.