Hello, just a Yankee from Alabama!

[janiedoe]

So my one chick has been out of its shell for 19 hours. I see or hear no signs of pipping out of the only other egg in the incubator but I didn't see or hear anything from either a few hours before #1 was born.

If the other does not hatch, this chick is going to be alone for a few days at least as I have some more due to hatch this weekend (Sat and Sun).

Will the chick be OK if I do things like give it a mirror or little stuffed toy and visit it to let it know it's not alone, or should I try to pick up a few chicks from Tractor Supply? Don't really like the latter option as I'll be swimming in other chicks before long.

I'm going to leave the chick in the incubator for a few more hours and hope the other egg hatches but not looking good. I'll then move it to the brooder, but again, it will be all alone.

I hope the other egg will hatch. The little one will be okay for a while. Just add the mirror and a radio or a tablet for it to watch if possible. Try and give it plenty of your time also. You will also have a special bond with that one.

 

[Debbie292d]

So my one chick has been out of its shell for 19 hours. I see or hear no signs of pipping out of the only other egg in the incubator but I didn't see or hear anything from either a few hours before #1 was born.

If the other does not hatch, this chick is going to be alone for a few days at least as I have some more due to hatch this weekend (Sat and Sun).

Will the chick be OK if I do things like give it a mirror or little stuffed toy and visit it to let it know it's not alone, or should I try to pick up a few chicks from Tractor Supply? Don't really like the latter option as I'll be swimming in other chicks before long.

I'm going to leave the chick in the incubator for a few more hours and hope the other egg hatches but not looking good. I'll then move it to the brooder, but again, it will be all alone.

Chicks can actually live in the incubator without food/water for up to 72 hours, not that just having an egg sitting there is any company for him, but he'll sleep most of the first day regardless.

We've had luck with the TV running by our brooder when there's just been one in there. Same idea with a radio.

 

[Airyaman]

Moved the single chick to brooder. I put a bluetooth speaker next to it and put a peaceful music soundtrack on loop. So mirror and music and several moments of interaction. S/he took to the food much quicker than the water. Mostly hangs out under the brooder plate.

Stopped at a few TSCs to see what they had, cornish crosses and ducks.

 

[Airyaman]

So lesson for future: never buy just 6 eggs if you're going USPS, and never put just 6 eggs in the incubator.

 

[Airyaman]

So let's say some chicks hatch tomorrow and I leave them in the incubator until Sunday. My single chick has been hatched since Wednesday, so s/he will be 4 days old when I get ready to move chicks. Should I put the chicks in with the one or put them together first and then the one chick in with them?

"Squeaker" (my name for it) is doing rather well, btw.

 

[DobieLover]

So let's say some chicks hatch tomorrow and I leave them in the incubator until Sunday. My single chick has been hatched since Wednesday, so s/he will be 4 days old when I get ready to move chicks. Should I put the chicks in with the one or put them together first and then the one chick in with them?

"Squeaker" (my name for it) is doing rather well, btw.

Give it a try and see how it goes. It being the only older chick it will probably be just fine. But have a little chicken wire or hardware cloth barrier you can put up to separate them if you need to.

 

[Airyaman]

I've been playing peaceful music with nature sounds (bird chips in there) but I realized that this was not the right soundtrack for human interaction so Yacht Rock is the best choice.

 

[Debbie292d]

So let's say some chicks hatch tomorrow and I leave them in the incubator until Sunday. My single chick has been hatched since Wednesday, so s/he will be 4 days old when I get ready to move chicks. Should I put the chicks in with the one or put them together first and then the one chick in with them?

"Squeaker" (my name for it) is doing rather well, btw.

I've mixed them in the brooder as young ones before but it was the other way around with the others being 3 weeks old and the orphan being newly hatched. I had turned the incubator down to 90F and left him in there for a couple of days using bottle caps for food/water. That way he wouldn't get trampled so easy. Now we have a divider for that brooder and one more brooder. I think yours will be fine as long as they'll be strong enough and way closer in age.

 

[Airyaman]

My little chick is currently either sleeping or grooving to

 

[Debbie292d]

My little chick is currently either sleeping or grooving to

You and your chick have good taste in music!