How to care for a single chick?

[CozyDia]

I got a half-dozen batch of shipped bantam eggs, but only 2/6 were fertile. Today is Day 20 and one of them hatched and is currently drying off in the incubator while the other egg shows no sign of moving or pipping. Assuming the worst case scenario where the other one doesn't hatch, I'm worried about the one chick being lonely. I can't exactly purchase another chick right away.

Is there any way I can help it feel less lonely (other than spending time with it)?

 

[Debbie292d]

You're not alone with shipped eggs giving horrible hatch rates this year.

We've had an orphan chick twice. The TV is right outside the brooder so we leave that on and that quiets them down. A boombox would work too. Others I've heard put a stuffed animal in the brooder and they'll cuddle up with it. I just made them a shallow soft "nest" they could get in and out easy.

 

[The Coop Crew]

Also a mirror in the brooder works great! They see themselves and think they have a friend

 

[LaFleche]

Put a ticking clock in a woolly sock and place a soft plushy soft to next to it so the chick can cuddle up and halfway under.

And you will have to encourage it more often to eat and drink. Place the mirror where food and water is to create the illusion of flock mates eating with it.

Try to get at least two or three other chicks of similar age to help it thrive.

 

[SueT]

I had a single chick hatch, and it would not stop peeping. A mirror helped a little, a radio helped a little, but not much. I went to the feed store and got another chick and the chick was so happy! It showed the new friend where the food was, how to drink from the nipple waterer, and all around their little brooder.
After all that, they both ended up being boys!

 

[CozyDia]

I think I spoke too soon. Woke up to see the other egg pipping! My lone chick won't be alone after all if things goes well *fingers crossed*

 

[LaFleche]

I think I spoke too soon. Woke up to see the other egg pipping! My lone chick won't be alone after all if things goes well *fingers crossed*

 

[LaFleche]

I think I spoke too soon. Woke up to see the other egg pipping! My lone chick won't be alone after all if things goes well *fingers crossed*

Did it hatch?