Can I move the chick after hatching?

[lorenlouise08]

So I have a broody hen, and decided to let her hatch a couple of eggs. She takes turns with the bantam, but she is definitely the broody one. So I decided to let her hatch a couple of bantam chicks to let the kids raise. I am now down to 1, because my clumsy self dropped 1. So, a couple of questions.
1) can I move the chick when it hatches into a tub with heat lamp, etc.? I don't have the means to move the hen with the chick. Will she become depressed or anything? (Sounds silly to ask)
2) will one chick survive by itself as long as it has adequate heat, chick starter, etc.? I plan on letting her sit on the next bantam egg I get, but they will be a week apart.
Thanks for the advice!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Unless you can get another chick to brood with it, I would leave it with the hen.....for the chicks sake

 

[lorenlouise08]

Will the other chickens eat the chick? First time here..sorry for the dumb questions.

 

[Miss717]

Unless you can get another chick to brood with it, I would leave it with the hen.....for the chicks sake

I agree. Chickens are social creatures. I don't think one chick by itself would be very happy.

 

[Miss717]

No such thing as a dumb question here. Broodys are pretty protective. I think it will be fine as long as it's mother takes care of it.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

So I have a broody hen, and decided to let her hatch a couple of eggs. She takes turns with the bantam, but she is definitely the broody one. So I decided to let her hatch a couple of bantam chicks to let the kids raise. I am now down to 1, because my clumsy self dropped 1. So, a couple of questions.
1) can I move the chick when it hatches into a tub with heat lamp, etc.? I don't have the means to move the hen with the chick. Will she become depressed or anything? (Sounds silly to ask)
2) will one chick survive by itself as long as it has adequate heat, chick starter, etc.? I plan on letting her sit on the next bantam egg I get, but they will be a week apart.
Thanks for the advice!

Hens usually sit on a dozen or more eggs, all laid more or less 24 hours apart. It seems to my ears that you are attempting to impose your will on a dumb animal and things like this seldom turn out well.

Hen hatching is supposed to be fun and easy. It is not nor was hen hatching ever intended to be a way to teach children about the "Birds & the bees."

If a hen can be kept in a natural manner she will raise chicks on her own without much input from humans.