Does a lone survivor hatchling need special care?

[Ashleygc470]

I have ONE little dude that survived from a batch that was in an incubator that broke overnight and I found them the next morning, coldish and thought I was S.O.L.. It hatched 4 days overdue and it was an emergency extraction (everyone has their own opinion on assisting during hatching; it made it and that's what counts, so please no negative comments regarding that).

I am looking for advice for my chick. Is there anything special I need to do for my baby? Idk if breed matters, it's an Ohiki (that's a bantam Japanese long tail).

I have a stuffed giraffe in with it that I rubbed all over my bigger chicks to make it smell like them that it cuddles with. I wish I could put it in with my other chicks, but it's too small and would get trampled. It's looking strong and like it'll make it.

Is there anything special it needs to make sure it doesn't get stressed or lonely, ect? And yes, no more shipped eggs for me. I'd rather drive 500 miles than have them all die and lose $100 worth of eggs. Ugh. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also if you have a trustworthy brand of incubator....

 

[sourland]

Give it a mirror so that it can talk to/bond with itself. That will make it far easier to integrate it with the other chicks once it is larger.

 

[azygous]

The little stuffed toy will help some to keep the new chick company, but it can't take the place of real live chicks. How old are the other chicks?

By the way, chickens don't operate on ollifactory cues as mammals do.

 

[Ashleygc470]

The little stuffed toy will help some to keep the new chick company, but it can't take the place of real live chicks. How old are the other chicks?

By the way, chickens don't operate on ollifactory cues as mammals do.

The others are about 9 weeks old. They are gentle Frizzles, but would definitely trample them.

So I rubbed down my Frizzles for no reason like a crazy person? Well, they liked it anyway. Lol.

 

[Ashleygc470]

Give it a mirror so that it can talk to/bond with itself. That will make it far easier to integrate it with the other chicks once it is larger.

Awesome idea! I will definitely do that.

 

[Ashleygc470]

We named our lone survivor "Hope". We had Hoped it would make it. And now we Hope it's a hen. Lol. She's a psycho, rambunctious little tyrant. Doing great and throws around some serious attitude.

 

[Folly's place]

Good save! My luck with incubators is atrocious! Glad you have one survivor.
Get some chicks as companions soonest! Any feed stores have chicks there yet? Get some bantams, preferably, about the same age, or a bit younger, and have a nice little group, not one overhumanized little chicken.
Mary