I found a baby chick in my coop!

[karenmontana]

My rooster left about 2 weeks ago..... today i came home to a baby chick ,,,,,,,, I cannot tell which one is the mother hen.... no one is acting motherly or claiming the chick..... What do i do? All the hens are on their roost and the baby is running around chirping... it's starting to get dark here.... will a hen come take care of him?
Do i put him in a pen like a store bought chickie? thank you for your help

 

[pennyJo1960]

Hey there saw your post no hens been absent a few days or broody that you noticed?

 

[ChickNanny13]

You sure there's not a hidden nest somewhere? Missing hens? You may need to step in if no one is.

 

[Anansi]

If you are concerned, you can set the chick up with a brooder like you would for chicks from a store or breeder.

Do any of your hens get agitated if you or another hen get close to the chick? Any of them sitting on eggs right now?

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

Or maybe someone just left a chick that they didn't want in your coop. I've had that happen to my neighbors before.

 

[karenmontana]

two hens jump off the roost when i go in.... should I leave him with some bedding and food and water down there?

 

[karenmontana]

one of the hens was getting mad when i took eggs the other day but I've been taking eggs every few days..... I didn't possibly think they'd be fertile since my rooster has been gone for a while....

 

[karenmontana]

I did find some eggs tonight out on the ground in their pasture area, but spread out, not in a clutch

 

[karenmontana]

none of the hens are down there with him.... they are all cuddled up for the night like usual, and he is chirping down on the ground

 

[Anansi]

I would put some nesting material in a box, food and water, and, depending on the nighttime temps, a heat lamp in one corner. Make sure the chick can get in and out of the box, and that the other chickens can't get to close to the heat lamp. Check on them before the normal time you let them out, then you'll know who momma is. If there is no momma, raise it the same as you would a store bought chick.