Can a chick live alone?

[Lili Smith]

only one of my eggs has hatched and I think it may be a boy, can he live alone if the others don’t hatch or will he be sad?

 

[Windus]

He will be depressed. When I had only one very special egg hatch I found someone selling chicks near me and bought 4 chicks to keep her company, when they were old enough to go into the coop I sold the other chicks as I really did not need/want them but they served a purpose.

 

[Lili Smith]

Aww I am sad to hear that my chick will be depressed. My other two eggs that haven’t hatched yet have no movement, is it normal to see movement when candiling on day 22?

 

[Lili Smith]

If the other two don’t hatch, should I:
1)try to put the chick with a broody hen
2) try to buy more chicks
3)raise him at home and then move him to the flock when he is old enough
Please give me advice on what to do

 

[Annfill]

Hi Lily. I am new and haven't had any experience with your exact situation, but I would try to buy another chick or two. I have had single chicks hatch under hens, but they had their mum for company.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

If you have a broody hen that is NOT currently sitting on fertile eggs, slip the chickie under her in the middle of the night and remove anything else from under her. If you don't, get 1 or 2 baby chickies to keep this one company.

 

[junebuggena]

Can the survive? Yes. But there are a few challenges to raising a single chick. Lone chicks will chirp constantly for company. Brooding with the mamma heating pad cave can help with this, by providing the warm contact that chicks instinctively crave.

 

[Lili Smith]

Thankyou for your advice, he is currently under a heat pad and I am buying two more chicks soon x

 

[tjb]

Thankyou for your advice, he is currently under a heat pad and I am buying two more chicks soon x

Really good choice. I had a single chick from a clutch and the first few days before I was able to buy a couple of pullets, it chirped constantly. When the other two joined it, it settled right...