Housesitting-baby chicks

[newchickensitter]

So, I've been house-sitting for about 2 and a half weeks now. They have chickens, obviously. I know enough about chicken hatching to know how to candle eggs, and when I got there, they had a broody hen. Since I wanted to avoid any traumatizing experiences with cracking open chicks, I candled them, and saw they were about on day 9? there was vein development. I then became a wimp about throwing them out. Yes, I know it would save me a lot of trouble, but I again am a wimp about it. fast forward, a chick hatched, and from what I see, it will be okay for a few days surviving off of the yolk? I discovered it tonight, and I will be abe to get chick feed and a waterer tomorrow evening. The chickens in there drink out of buckets. Its super hot though... but I have to work tomorrow at 5:00 am, have appointments until 4. No, I am not prepared. From my calculations, it should have hatched in 5 more days. So must have been past day 9 when I first checked.
The other problem, The coop is multilevel and definitely built for adult chickens. Will the mom protect them from the adults and if I out the food and water on the first level will they be okay sleeping on the ground?

 

[cavemanrich]

If you are house sitting,, that translates to not being your chickens.
The owners were irresponsible to not have chick feed available.
But as things are,,, do your BEST.
Try to isolate baby chick, and broody mom, from other chickens.
That means keep the rest of the flock away.
Provide feed to chicks,(as they hatch) ,, the same that chickens are already eating. You may need to crush it some, so chicks can eat it.
Provide water as soon as you can,, since you mentioned,, that it is HOT.
Water can be in a shallow dish, with some pebbles in it,,, to prevent chicks from drowning.
Another thing I wanted to point out. This applies to all chicks, and chickens. If the water is too warm,, the chickens will not drink it, Even though its right there in a bucket/dish.
Change as often as needed with cool water as possible.
I really am wising you success


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[Altairsky]

Don't worry too much about the chicks. If you can't find chick feed, give them what the hens are already eating. Just break it if it's too big for them.
I'm letting my broody raise her chicks. They have chick starter, however the hen brought them in a corner where layer feed was spilled and I know for sure they ate quite a lot of it. She also feed them whatever scratch she can find buried in the pine shavings. This morning I witnessed one of these 4 days old chicks hunt a stinkbug and swallow it whole like it was french pastry. They're dinosaurs after all. You can't control them unless they're inside a brooder.
Fresh water is the most important thing.