I have a lone chick -what should I do?

[sweetsam]

hi!

Only one chick made it out of my first batch from the incubator (I had some temperature issues which are now fixed) I am expecting more chicks in 1 week. The chick is 24 hours old and seems healthy. Should I be worried about her being alone? (Option to get some chicks from someone else or add a mirror) Would there be any issues if the other chicks are 1 week younger than her? All the eggs are from the same breeder.

Thank you!

 

[sonjab314]

Id personally get another chick and put with it until you others arrive. Its not good for them to be alone.

 

[AmyLynn2374]

hi!

Only one chick made it out of my first batch from the incubator (I had some temperature issues which are now fixed) I am expecting more chicks in 1 week. The chick is 24 hours old and seems healthy. Should I be worried about her being alone? (Option to get some chicks from someone else or add a mirror) Would there be any issues if the other chicks are 1 week younger than her? All the eggs are from the same breeder.

Thank you!

If your local feed or TSC store has any chicks in right now, I'd grab a friend for him/her. I raised an only chick. My first hatch was compromised by temp issues because of a faulty thermometer and I ended up with a lone chick in the fall season after the stores sell no more. He did fine because I kept him with us for the most part, even had to move his brooder to beside my bed so I could get some sleep. (This was after two nights of sleeping on the floor beside the brooder to keep him quiet...lol) And he turned out just fine, but unless you want to have him out with you to keep him company (and clean a whole lot of poop...lol) a good majority of the time,I would find him a friend. I tried the mirror and stuffed animal, (and I've heard of those things working) but for us, he was not interested. He wanted "mommy". lol

 

[VTChickenQueen]

I definitely would get him a friend and also spend a lot of time with him or her. He'll imprint on you and feel happy whenever your around, but he'll need his buddy for when you can't be around.

 

[sweetsam]

I went to the feed store and ended up getting 2 chicks. My chick is alert now and defiantly engaged however she is also picking on the new chicks. She used to sleep sitting down and would eventually be sprawled
Across, but now she is mostly standing. I build them a mini chick six roosting ladder with Popsicle sticks and she is on it but not the others. Is she trying to establish her authority in the pecking order?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I went to the feed store and ended up getting 2 chicks. My chick is alert now and defiantly engaged however she is also picking on the new chicks. She used to sleep sitting down and would eventually be sprawled
Across, but now she is mostly standing. I build them a mini chick six roosting ladder with Popsicle sticks and she is on it but not the others. Is she trying to establish her authority in the pecking order?

LOL. Chicks will sleep in a hundred positions and at the drop of a hat. I think my fav is the standing up as the head slowly drops drop so it looks as if they are going to do a headstand next...lol As for roosting, some chicks take to it quicker than others and some would just rather cuddle up on the floor in the bedding snuggled to a buddy. Chicks pecking and picking is natural as well and only to be concerned about if it is extreme or a single chick is being singled out and picked on by others.

 

[RubyNala97]

I went to the feed store and ended up getting 2 chicks. My chick is alert now and defiantly engaged however she is also picking on the new chicks. She used to sleep sitting down and would eventually be sprawled
Across, but now she is mostly standing. I build them a mini chick six roosting ladder with Popsicle sticks and she is on it but not the others. Is she trying to establish her authority in the pecking order?

this just sounds adorable...post a pic if you can!

 

[snaffle]

I went to the feed store and ended up getting 2 chicks. My chick is alert now and defiantly engaged however she is also picking on the new chicks. She used to sleep sitting down and would eventually be sprawled
Across, but now she is mostly standing. I build them a mini chick six roosting ladder with Popsicle sticks and she is on it but not the others. Is she trying to establish her authority in the pecking order?

I had problems the last couple of years when I would put a new chick or two in a brooder with an existing chick or chicks. This year I have not had and problems. Here is what I am doing differently.

I remove the resident chick or chicks from the brooder and put them in a box. Put the new chick or chicks in and give them a few minutes to settle in.

When I return the original resident chick or chicks to the brooder, it is almost as if the original chicks feel they are a newcomer/visitor and they dont pick on the new ones.

 

[sweetsam]

I tried that by taking them all out and returning them after 30 mins in the order you suggested and it has made things much calmer in the brooding box! Thank you for the tip!!! They seem to be bonding and call for
Each other if one is taken out to be petted

 

[sweetsam]

@RubyNala97 sharing some pics. This is my cream legbar pullet. I have since had 8 more (cream legbars and bielefelder chicks) added to the brooder box -the 2nd hatch that I was waiting for.

These two below are the Ameracauna. I definitely like the personality of the cream legbars and bielefelder chicks more. I think the Americauna are spunky, but a little more aloof. My chocolate ameracauna likes to go dive into the sleeping chicks and wake them all up. They had a stand down to her -it was hilarious to watch because they are 1/3 her size!