how can I help raise a lone chick!

[Morgan231]

only 1 of my chicks hatched today! on day 23 so happy, how can I help raise her as a lone chick?

 

[FunClucks]

May not be the answer you're expecting, but the best thing to do is go to the feed store and get a few more chicks the same age/size. Or you can check on Craigslist or FB for folks selling chicks. That way it will have a flock and do much better and be less stressed.

It is possible to raise a lone chicken, but if at all possible they do better with a flock, even if it's just a couple other chickens.

If you set more eggs or incubate more eggs later this year because you want a certain type of chicken you're not able to find at the feed store, you can sell the chicks you bought at the feed store as point of lay hens. Around where I live they usually sell for at least $25, more for specialty pure breeds.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

x2, honestly don't do that (raise alone.) Do what you have to do to make sure it has at a minimum one more flock mate.

 

[Morgan231]

x2, honestly don't do that (raise alone.) Do what you have to do to make sure it has at a minimum one more flock mate.

I was hoping to have more but she was the only one to hatch from out of 3 eggs sadly , however my silkie hen has gone broody and has been for a few days would I be okay to bring my silkie hen inside with the chick?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I was hoping to have more but she was the only one to hatch from out of 3 eggs sadly , however my silkie hen has gone broody and has been for a few days would I be okay to bring my silkie hen inside with the chick?

That's a good question. Is it the same hen that had this particular chick? Either way adult's don't usually do well with baby chicks so if you try it, don't take your eyes off the experiment for long at all. Any way you can get just one more chick from a feed store?

 

[Morgan231]

That's a good question. Is it the same hen that had this particular chick? Either way adult's don't usually do well with baby chicks so if you try it, don't take your eyes off the experiment for long at all. Any way you can get just one more chick from a feed store?

yes It is the hens baby, she seems settled she has a brooder plate and I put a stuff toy in for her and when I went back and checked on her she was there fast asleep snuggles into the toy. However I do know that chicks learn off each other! so what can I do to teach her how to eat and drink? x and also the same hen has been in introductions with a chick previously and she was fine however I understand that with the age difference the hen will probably get fed up as last time the chick was a lot older than this chick when introduced

 

[Morgan231]

May not be the answer you're expecting, but the best thing to do is go to the feed store and get a few more chicks the same age/size. Or you can check on Craigslist or FB for folks selling chicks. That way it will have a flock and do much better and be less stressed.

It is possible to raise a lone chicken, but if at all possible they do better with a flock, even if it's just a couple other chickens.

If you set more eggs or incubate more eggs later this year because you want a certain type of chicken you're not able to find at the feed store, you can sell the chicks you bought at the feed store as point of lay hens. Around where I live they usually sell for at least $25, more for specialty pure breeds.

I do have 3 more eggs of the same breed put in the incubator due to hatch in 19 days, will that be okay?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I do have 3 more eggs of the same breed put in the incubator due to hatch in 19 days, will that be okay?

It's definitely a chicken social experiment but at least you're not planning to leave the chick solo forever, so go for it.

 

[Morgan231]

It's definitely a chicken social experiment but at least you're not planning to leave the chick solo forever, so go for

thank you and thank you for helping me I appreciate it x

 

[NatJ]

however my silkie hen has gone broody and has been for a few days would I be okay to bring my silkie hen inside with the chick?

You could try putting the chick with the silkie hen and see how they do.
If the hen will adopt the chick, that will be convenient for you and good for the chick-- she will provide warmth, and teach it everything a chick needs to know.

But this might not work. A hen usually needs to be broody for about 3 weeks before she is willing to care for chicks. It is rare for a hen to accept chicks when she has been broody for only a few days. I think it may be worth trying in your case, but be prepared to rescue the chick quickly if she does not accept it.

I would probably try giving the chick to the hen in whichever place the hen is sitting, and watch what happens. If she accepts the chick, then you can decide whether to move them both to somewhere else or to leave them there.

I do know that chicks learn off each other! so what can I do to teach her how to eat and drink?

Chicks usually peck everything to learn about it, so the chick will probably learn to eat and drink anyway.

If you want to help, you can use your finger to "peck" the food and water.

You can also put shiny marbles or something similar in the water. The chick will try to peck the shiny things, get water in its beak, and learn to drink. Chicks usually learn to drink anyway, but I think this helps, and I know it makes me feel better