Help with baby of feral chicken

[Rescue Mama]

Hello fellow chicken lovers. So we've had an egg hatch that we used as a dummy egg. We have a flock of ferals, (just appeared on the property one day), as well as a tame flock. One of the feral's has been a summer brooder each & every year. To keep her brooding in one area we have a house set up about 4 feet off the ground that we seal up each evening for her protection. There is no fencing around it. We typically place an egg under her that has set out for about a week to keep her going to the same location for brooding. It would be a sad day if she decided to brood somewhere in the woods & we couldn't find her. We mark the egg so we know which is the dummy egg. Well, this egg hatched. The dilemma lies in how to raise the baby. If we allow the feral to raise the baby, it will have no protection & will also become feral & sleep in the trees if it survives. It is impossible to get the feral in the coop with the others. We also have 2 tamed brooders. Should we try placing the baby under one of the other brooders that is social-able? Should we then separate the said tame brooder from the rest of the flock? Should we take the baby & raise it by hand? If so, should we purchase more chicks so that it's not raised alone? Who knew raising chickens would be so heart felt.....

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

I would by some more chicks for it. Chicks need others. I would place them under one of the brooders if that is easier. If not raise them by hand.

 

[WVduckchick]

She will stay with the baby until it’s big enough and old enough to be on its own, and it will continue to follow her around until she runs it off. So if you can provide a safe place for them for a few weeks, she should take good care of it.
If you want to keep it, then give it to another one of your broodies