A neighbor was on a walk and rescued a stray chick being chased by a cat. She brought the chick to me because we have a few hens. My best guess is it is about 5 weeks. Not completely feathered out. Right now I have her in a dog crate. Eating and drinking great. Checked around in our neighborhood and it is not any of the other chicken owners. So we are going to keep it. So my questions is this. Will she be o.k. being raised by herself until she is old enough to be integrated in with the rest of the hens? Should I try to find a couple of chicks around the same age and try to integrate it in with them? Any thoughts?
Welcome to the Forum. Ideally it would be nice to to have another chick around the same age. I wonder if the chick would feel some companionship though if it was in a secure enclosure within the coop or coop run.
That is my next step today is to make a safe runfor the chick inside the main run. The poor chick does seem lonely. I think I will call around today and see if I can find any thing close in age. So many things to think about. They need to be pullets as our neighbors would not appreciate a rooster. Then have to hope for healthy additions Thanks for your help!
Please Isolate your chick for one month. It has been outside running around and no telling what it has picked up. Even if it appears healthy any stress could bring out a resp problem or other nasty. If you have other hens PLEASE do not put it with them. I hear so many sad stories about an added chick that appeared perfectly healthy causing major loses of ones flocks. Take care of it second and always wash between. Good luck with your new chick. Gloria Jean
