help! with integration of a late-comer.

[yes2matt]

Hi, I've got a late-comer. I got my first four chicks three days ago, and another the next morning. Since Momma Red was still setting (sitting?) I left four eggs under her. One hatched yesterday afternoon (so the others are two and three days old). Momma Red rejected it, wouldn't cuddle it up, and when I put it closer to her started pecking at it.

So I brought it inside and put it in a little brooder box, and it's perked up a lot with some heat, since momma wasn't keeping it warm. It's got what looks like a broken toe, but I think it is going to be ok.

Here's the problem. My hand is its only "friend." It will follow my hand around and eat or drink when my finger is in the food or water, but just cheeps loudly when I sit down to the computer (or go to work for 11 hrs).

I really, for my own sanity/convenience, don't want to hand-raise a single chick. Is there any way to integrate it back with the brood? How to trick Momma Red to take it as her own? (ironically it's one of the two that *are* her own)

Thanks for any help...
Matt in Charlotte

 

[artsyrobin]

not sure about getting her to accept him, but could you take one from the babies to be a friend for him, that way he will bond with it and not your hand...

 

[calicokat]

Whenever I'm trying to fool a momma, I do my sneaky switches in the middle of the night. So far when my moms have woken up in the AM and there were extra babies, it fooled them.

Maybe wait till they bed down tonight and give it a shot.

 

[yes2matt]

yep, that's what I did; slid her under Momma Red early this morning, and found... another hatchling! woot! The chick in question was really weak, prob from the broken (maybe malformed?) toe, and Momma didn't want her. But i returned a strong chick, and everybody's happy.

Plus Momma's still sitting on 2 eggs. I thought they were duds, but I just shook them *gently* and at least one's got a baby in there. So I hope she sits tight for a couple more days (they were laid on the nest late; but I hadn't marked the others, so I didn't know which to pull)

Anyway, thanks for the tips, I'm super pleased with this hatch!