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

[eggsrcool]

ok

 

[Fingers crossed]

Quote:
Yeah but i dont think you could do that from the start, i think it would still need company as soon as possible after hatching. The person who sells the hatching eggs near you.... how about asking if they have a fertile egg(s) that is due when yours is that you can buy? Would need to be close by though or you may damage the embryo.

 

[eggsrcool]

The supplier is 5.4 miles away, but my lane is a bit bumpy and the roads have quite sharp swerves and corners. Maybe if I hang around with it for a few hours a day until its 2 weeks or so then leave it in the introductory pen for 5 minutes under my supervision?

 

[Fingers crossed]

You could try it. I am by far no expert..... but my guesses are it would still be lonely.

I do hope you find a solution that works for the chick

 

[eggsrcool]

Ok, if one of my broodys is still broody I will let her have the chick, my main concern by doing this is, will the mother with a chick attack the new chick?

 

[Fingers crossed]

Just read at the bottom of your post you already have one chick.... how old is that one? Could it be with that one?

Sorry we posted at the same time

 

[eggsrcool]

By the time it hatches it will be 8 weeks old

 

[Fingers crossed]

Try the chick with the broody.... or put the egg under her. Maybe keep an eye on them both when it hatches for a little while to see that they are ok.

 

[eggsrcool]

Unforutunately I was trying to avoid broodys. I'll just have a think about it.

 

[eggsrcool]

Ok, I have a plan, I hope it works. I'm going to hatch the chick and but it in the brooder. I'll leave it there with a toy, until its a few weeks old, then I'll take it and put it in the introductory pen for about 5 minutes under supervision every day, and increase the time by 5 minutes every week. When it's about 8 weeks, I'll move it into the introductory pen permanently where it will have hosing, water etc.. so it can interact with the flock. After a week or so I will remove the fencing, so it can join the flock permanantly. By then, I should be able to tell if its a boy or a girl and do what is necessary. Does this sound good?