Help! I have a chick and no starter food!

[camillebug]

I have one silver Phoenix that hatched about an hour ago, 1 day early can I grind up some layer crumbles to get it by until tomorrow? If not what do you recommend? I'm a little worried about the extra calcium in the layer mash but I can get starter 1st thing in the morning?
Should I leave it in the incubator or move it to a brooder box? there are 3 eggs left that haven't started to unzip yet. Man this is cool!

 

[chicken_china_mom]

You don't need to feed it yet. Leave it in the bator until the others hatch. Newly hatched chicks are still absorbing their yolk and they are good for about 3 days where you don't need to feed them. You have plenty of time to get to the feed store to get your chick starter. Do NOT open that bator, you could jeopardize the other eggs that you are waiting on to hatch. Your little chick will be fine.

 

[katharinad]

You can wait a day or two without a problem. You can also grind up some of the crumble. It will not hurt, since the chick will not eat much at this time. Plus it will give it some extra energy to start with. I also leave my chicks in the bator for 12 hours, before moving to the brooder.
Katharina

 

[camillebug]

Thank you for your quick responses! I will let the chick be until the others hatch and get the brooder ready.

 

[goldnchocolate]

You could also hard boil or scramble an egg and give that to a chick if you don't have any food. Good luck with your hatch!!

 

[camillebug]

Thanks for your help. We only had the one that hatched. 1 out of 4 is not so good. I will try harder.

 

[M@M@2four]

I would put the layer pellets in a small dish and add water till they get mushy--ten bucks says she'll scarf it right up!

 

[justtoni44]

I had a chick hatch on day 25.......................