Broody mamma left chick at 8 weeks need suggestions on if chick will be ok alone

[rlange37]

OK here is the story one of my mamma chickens has decided to rejoin the flock leaving a lone 8 week old chick. Mamma and chick were kept in dog crate in the coop with the rest of the flock(one of the hens killed one chick so this was out of necessity. )My concern now is its supposed to be 20 degrees tonight and I'm worried if that will be to cold for the chick? I have put lots of straw in and around the crate but am still concerned. Just an FYI this is my first winter having chickens so any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.....also I'm located in Michigan so we have wind and snow right now

 

[azygous]

Ordinarily, an eight-week old chick is entirely able to survive on its own. But if it hasn't been introduced to the flock, the other chickens might give it a rough time. You could pop a hot water bottle or heating pad in the crate for it to snuggle with.

At the first opportunity, the chick needs to be integrated. If this were my chick, I would wait until roosting time and find its ex-broody mama. I would put the hen at one end of the roosting bar with the chick next to her next to a wall if that's how one of your perches is situated. This will start the chick to roosting and the hen shouldn't object too much. She may even be willing to protect the chick while it integrates.

 

[rlange37]

Ordinarily, an eight-week old chick is entirely able to survive on its own. But if it hasn't been introduced to the flock, the other chickens might give it a rough time. You could pop a hot water bottle or heating pad in the crate for it to snuggle with.

At the first opportunity, the chick needs to be integrated. If this were my chick, I would wait until roosting time and find its ex-broody mama. I would put the hen at one end of the roosting bar with the chick next to her next to a wall if that's how one of your perches is situated. This will start the chick to roosting and the hen shouldn't object too much. She may even be willing to protect the chick while it integrates.

Thank you I've tried integrating the chick but have had a hard time with it......it's mamma has not been the "protective" type of mamma and I have some hens that are definitely queen Bs It's hard with all the different information that's out there to know what the right thing to do is I'm trying my best I think having the one chick killed has made me a little over protective of the chicks hopefully not to their detriment

 

[azygous]

I understand. Once you have a chick killed, it's scary to keep trying. But I've had very good luck with the roosting trick. Even when the hen isn't protective, the chick will find security by being next to the hen on the perch. And if there are no other hens on the other side of it, the chick won't be scared.

The advantage of integrating like this is that when the flock awakes in the morning, the presence of the chick on the roost gives it "points" toward integration because the flock will accept its presence.

From there, making sure the chick has places to go for safety will help. Lots of space will help the chick have room to outrun bullies. If you can rig the crate so it has an entrance only big enough for the chick to get in, it can act as a panic room. The chick will also need a safe place to eat and access water without being chased away.

 

[rlange37]

I understand. Once you have a chick killed, it's scary to keep trying. But I've had very good luck with the roosting trick. Even when the hen isn't protective, the chick will find security by being next to the hen on the perch. And if there are no other hens on the other side of it, the chick won't be scared.

The advantage of integrating like this is that when the flock awakes in the morning, the presence of the chick on the roost gives it "points" toward integration because the flock will accept its presence.

From there, making sure the chick has places to go for safety will help. Lots of space will help the chick have room to outrun bullies. If you can rig the crate so it has an entrance only big enough for the chick to get in, it can act as a panic room. The chick will also need a safe place to eat and access water without being chased away.

Thank you very much for the advice I truly appreciate it.