MGG
Enabler
- Feb 7, 2020
- 14,099
- 61,592
- 1,136
It's ok. They almost never explode. It's safe to leave them until at least 14 days. If they are over a week old they won't be suitable. Do they have any younger chicks? Chicks that are a week old will peck it and probably kill it. If it were a cockerel it would integrate eventually and become the flock leader. It's just very stressful on you and the bird to integrate a single chick. They don't have a buddy to sleep with when they're kicked out of the coop, or to hide with when they're chased around, etc. It's very stressful on them, and the stress can actually kill them.I know, I should have gone for at least 3 eggs - my mistake. I can leave it for sure, I just don't want it to go bad and explode - I heard that can happen?
I actually checked and there is someone selling chicks not so far away. They are more than a week old though, is that a problem?
What if it would be a rooster? Would it still get picked on, if the rest of the flock would be hens?