Did a staggered hatch- what to do with the younger chick?

hello! I've been lurking around this forum for awhile and figured making an account might be a good idea haha

Anyway, I just tried incubating eggs for technically the first time ( I used an incubator once almost 7 years ago and now my hens usually hatch their own) I had sort of a staggered hatch- 8 Phoenix eggs & a Easter egger that I started with - and a d' Anver egg I got from a friend that was a about week younger than the rest.

The Easter egger egg died around the first week and one Phoenix egg randomly died very close to hatch. 7 of the Phoenix eggs hatched 6 days ago. Very healthy chicks that are doing really well. I was pretty content with a 70% hatch rate on my first time

...But the d'anver chick hatched last night! It's currently by itself in another brooder, but is very strong and started walking and standing very quickly.

Now my question is about mixing the chicks...
When should I do this - or rather, should I move it at all? .I know they are really small birds but the phoenixes aren't too large either. I'd just be concerned about them bullying this little chick.
But I really don't think a chick should be by itself...?
I already had a chick hatch without siblings late October ( crazy broody hen that had eggs longer than we thought & we didn't have the heart to take the eggs away after realizing they had been there almost 3 weeks) and the poor thing was so lonely. I really don't want to do that to another chick.

So, what should I do?

birdashes said:

hello! I've been lurking around this forum for awhile and figured making an account might be a good idea haha

Anyway, I just tried incubating eggs for technically the first time ( I used an incubator once almost 7 years ago and now my hens usually hatch their own) I had sort of a staggered hatch- 8 Phoenix eggs & a Easter egger that I started with - and a d' Anver egg I got from a friend that was a about week younger than the rest.

The Easter egger egg died around the first week and one Phoenix egg randomly died very close to hatch. 7 of the Phoenix eggs hatched 6 days ago. Very healthy chicks that are doing really well. I was pretty content with a 70% hatch rate on my first time

...But the d'anver chick hatched last night! It's currently by itself in another brooder, but is very strong and started walking and standing very quickly.

Now my question is about mixing the chicks...
When should I do this - or rather, should I move it at all? .I know they are really small birds but the phoenixes aren't too large either. I'd just be concerned about them bullying this little chick.
But I really don't think a chick should be by itself...?
I already had a chick hatch without siblings late October ( crazy broody hen that had eggs longer than we thought & we didn't have the heart to take the eggs away after realizing they had been there almost 3 weeks) and the poor thing was so lonely. I really don't want to do that to another chick.

So, what should I do?

Click to expand...

I would put the new chick with the others and watch what happens. You'd most likely see bullying right away if the older chicks were going to.

I bought some chicks at Orchelns and they were all standard breeds. About 3 days after that I got a bantam and I put it in with them but they all bullied it and stepped on it so I put it in a separate box with its own heat lamp. I felt bad for the chick and it was lonely so I bought another one and they are doing perfect. Since Chick Days is going on at Orchelns and Tractor Supply I would recommend getting another one as a friend.

Thank you both for your answers!
We decided to go and buy two chicks ( bantam buff brahmas) as buddies for it from a local farm. They seems quite happy together!

Glad something worked! . I hope you and the chicks well