Can chicks be reared alone? Help! 13 days left to find out!!!!

[eggsrcool]

Firstly, let me apologise for what was written above.. Secondly, my broody has been broody for 8 weeks but could stop any day.

 

[eggsrcool]

Quote:
What's a Craig list?

 

[Kajunbanty]

I think what pdsavage was saing is to take the hatched chick and put it under the broody hen (best done at night) when morning comes the broody will think her egg has hatched and she will mother the chick. The chick will do ok having the broody as a mom and to be honest I think it will do better with her than alone.

The best way to stop a hen from being broody is to put her in a cage or small coop and remove anything that she might use as a nest. Just give her feed and water and keep her in there for at least a week.

 

[Goose and Fig]

I agree- you are lucky to have some broody hens. Give the chick to one of them- it will be much happier- and easy on you as well. You'll probably end up with a really great mama hen since she'd only have the one chick. Well- I take that back- she'd probably be a great mama no matter what.

 

[eggsrcool]

I don't think I'll be able to put it under a hen. They have been broody for 9 weeks now and with 2 weeks to go they will probably stop soon. And I have a chick with another hen at the moment and it will probably cause fights. I really wanted to raise the chick myself

. I'm confused...

. Shall I get more fertile eggs and replace the infertile eggs? Can't I put something in which will make the chick less lonely? I don't want to use broody's. This is my first hatch with my incubator and I wanted it to be different.

 

[Lov'emSouthernEggs]

Quote:
I'm so sorry that you are going through such a disappointing time.

My thoughts...I understand that you wanted to raise these chicks. Part of that is making decisions that are in their best interest. It sounds like you are trying to do that. You have huge concerns about putting the one chick out with the other flock. Your choices then are to

1. leave it by itself and hope it will be fine.

2. find someone that has chicks that are within a few days of the same hatch date as yours, purchase the chicks and give it some buddies to hang with.

3. it's too late to buy more fertil eggs. They won't hatch with this one.

4. Hang out with the chick 24/7 and give it the company that it needs for 6-8 weeks and then introduce it to your flock.

I would go with number 2. That would be the easiest, cheapest, and less stressful.

I hope it works out for you!

 

[Fingers crossed]

Hi, I'm in the Uk as well and must admit trying to find sellers of chickens or chicks is not easy. Do you have a copy of "Practical Poultry"? They have a list of breeders in there... just a matter of seeing how local they are to you. Good luck with finding a friend for your little one.

 

[eggsrcool]

Unfortunately I don't have a copy of Practical Poultry. My chicken supplier and breeder does not sell chicks. I think one of my cream legbars has just become broody. My dad says we should buy some fertile eggs to put under her next week. If I was going to buy some buddies for it, how many? My supplier does not sell babies. How lonely will it get? It is expected to be a silkie, I have a broody silkie, but there is not enough room in the nest boxes for her to sit in.

 

[Fingers crossed]

Are you in North Suffolk? Sorry my geography is not good... i will have a look for you to see if i can find anyone local to you. Our hatch rate hasnt been very successful so far... out of 6 eggs we usually get 2 hatch and they always seem fine in a pair...so with another one you should be ok.

 

[eggsrcool]

I live in North Suffolk, yes. what about if I put a mirror in the brooder? Would it fool it into thinking there was another chick there?