How do I raise a single chick?

[grnidone]

Do I need to be concerned with the Roo? He's very good to the hens, but will he see the babies as something to try to peck at? Or, conversely, will he be protective of the babies (as they are his.)

 

[Leighe]

@azygous has an amazing article (well a coupla) on raising chicks in the vicinity of the flock and how she got there. I'm actually looking to do it with my big pen. However, I incubate and sometimes let hens have chicks. When the hens have them, I don't do anything. The hen will protect the chick and the chick will learn more and faster. Incubating though, if only 1 or 2 hatches I'm at a feed store thats owned locally here buying chicks that will make a total of 6-7. I do not incubate during the winter as the store does not sell chicks and I need a resource for the times when only one or two hatches. I have no doubt that @azygous is right on the money with her knowledge, I just haven't reached that yet but am working towards that. I want my little group to have each other to hang out with and be able to defend against the bigger hens who can be pushy. Also for sleeping together. So glad you came and asked.....

 

[chickens really]

My Rooster has never pecked or threatened a Chick...He is protective of them...He knows the Hen and accepts the chicks...

 

[lazy gardener]

My roo is a wonderful Daddy. He loves his babies, will tidbit them, and will let them pick little bits off his beak and wattles.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I cull my roosters for aggression to other chickens. I have two buffs that pick at each other a bit, but they are great with the hens and the chicks I am raising with them. They don't really start trying to enforce the pecking order with the cockerels until about 15-16 weeks or so, and then they are big enough to get away and hide.

 

[lazy gardener]

My roo leaves even cockerels alone. I had 2 in my winter coop with him and his harem last fall, and they would have been allowed to stay, but they were too "busy" with the hens and pullets.

 

[MissCC]

A great question and very helpful answers... My question is similar:

(Please let me know if I should post as a new thread)

This morning, among the flock of about sixty that I care for, I noticed a single yellow chick with its mom out in the yard. Mom and chick were not with the flock at morning feeding. When I saw the darling chick, I made it a point to remember what the hen looked like. This afternoon, I found the chick, but no mom in sight. I'm pretty sure the chick is one day old. I put it in an isolation coop, and looked more for the mom, and was thinking who else I could catch and put into the safe pen with baby...

After reading through this thread, I'm wondering if I should put the chick in one of the two main coops with all the other hens and about four or five roos...?

The main coops have places where the peeps can go under the gate if they want to...

What's the best place for this little chicken little?

Any advice will be appreciated - I'm new at this! Thank you

 

[lazy gardener]

I would not put an abandoned chick in a pen under such circumstances.

 

[MissCC]

I would not put an abandoned chick in a pen under such circumstances.

After reading in the Learning Center and from what I've gleaned from this thread, I completely agree!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

We put 8 eggs into the incubator and we've sort of candled them to find (what appears to be) only 2 growing embryos.

We've never hatched eggs out before, so this is all new.

If only one chick makes it, how do we raise it?

Congratulations on your new project. Hatching chickens is a lot of fun.

I recommend not panicking yet but wait and see what happens. Candle again in a few days to see how things are developing. Check your humidity and temps now.

If by chance only 1 chick hatches, I totally agree with the others, try to find day olds at a feed store to add as buddies.

I personally would NOT automatically add the chick to your flock of hens and rooster.
Many flocks are not accepting of new animals no matter the size. Many chicks have been killed by aggressive hens and/or roosters. The isolated chick can look very much like an outsider.

The chick will also need warmth that the flock will not provide during its first few weeks. Broody hens sit on the chicks to keep them warm a lot during that first week (depending on the outdoor temps). Non-broody hens will not do that.

There are some articles on BYC about heat pad brooding in sight of the flock that would be worth reading....which I think another poster linked.

But don't borrow trouble yet. You may get 2 or more happy healthy chicks that will brood together nicely, or find some buddies at a feed store.

My thoughts.
LofMc