Lucky needs some help.

My parents had been away on holiday and there must have been some eggs somewhere that I wasn't collecting. After they returned I went to feed the dogs with some eggs that were on the bench that my dad had collected and placed there. The second one I cracked had a baby in it. I was horrified and my dad took over making the doggy dinners. He cracked another one and I heard him say that one wasn't too good. I said if they're in there alive why can't we just put them back under a chicken. I heard him make another comment after an egg crack so I walked over and grabbed one of the 3 eggs off the bench and said nope, not this one. He then said if I shine a light on it that I should be able to see if there's a baby in it. Out of the 3 eggs left only one had a baby in it so I wrote lucky on it and put it under a chicken. Lucky just hatched today and my dad went back in and found it on the ground with a number of peck marks. He's not sure if it was the mum or the other chickens but I don't want to risk putting it back under the mum tonight in case it was her and she kills it. I currently have it in a shoe box with straw and water. How do I care for a newly hatched chick. My mum did some bread and water but I'm not sure cows milk is what a little chick needs. How do I take care of it?

Welcome to BYC! It's great to have you.

Sounds like you're in a bit of a tough situation, and Lucky sounds lucky indeed.

Your first order of work is to get the chick a heat source. It will not last long without one, as chicks cannot regulate their own body temperature. You want something like a heating pad or heat lamp. For the very temporary time, an old sock filled with rice and microwaved or some handwarmers (like you stick in your pocket while it's cold out) will make do.

For feed you want medicated chick crumble. This can be found at most feed stores. Whatever you do, don't feed the layer feed you give adults - it has too much calcium and will hurt a young chick's kidneys. Get this asap. Now, chicks do absorb their yolk a few hours before they hatch, and can subsist off this nutrition alone for up to three days - but the sooner you get chick feed, the better. As for bread and milk - I would not feed either of those at this age. If you have nothing else, cook up a small amount of scrambled eggs and crumble them up very finely.

Straw is not ideal bedding for a chick, as it's too slippery. Pine shavings (always pine, never cedar) are ideal, but for the meantime, an old towel or rag is better than straw.

Now, you must decide whether or not to raise the chick yourself or return it to the mother. If you do give it back to the mother, you will need to separate her from the flock and give them their own little pen while she raises it. If you do this, you should get her separated and the chick returned to her as soon as possible. Raising it yourself is also a valid option, however if you do, you must find a similarly aged chick to raise with it, as chicks do not mature well without buddies to socialize with.

Good luck.

Hi and welcome to BYC. Chicks need a heat source, chicken starter feed and fresh water. If you don't have the set up to take care of it, then it may be better to cull it. If you are able to make a brooder, buy a heat source (lamp, brooder plate or whatever) and get food and a drinker for the chick, then I'd strongly advise getting another 2-3 chicks to keep the lone chick company.


Q/Misha has covered things in more detail than I was halfway through typing, so I will leave it at that.

CT

G’Day from down under notsolucky Welcome!

As you have already received some great advice, I will just wish you all the best.

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

Good luck with little Lucky!

Greetings from Kansas and ! It's great to have you aboard! Hope it all turns out okay for Lucky!