Is this a chick? If so, advice appreciated!

[jennymarieg]

Hi all,

I'm sorry to suddenly join and post a plea for help, but I have no idea what to do! My partner and I found what we think is a chick, on a reasonably busy road, with a very squished chick nearby (dead of course). We picked it up out of the road and had a good look around for any sign of chickens/ducks, etc, but none that we could see. We made the perhaps foolish decision to bring it to safety as I couldn't bring myself to leave it near the road. We tried a hen rescue nearby for advice, but they only take ex battery hens. They suggested the RSPB but apparently they don't take 'common fowl'. I wondered if anyone could let us know firstly if this is a chick, and secondly any advice based on rough age, if you can figure it out? Currently it's in a box in a warm place with some hamster type bedding, an eggcup of water and some crushed up chicken food (corn kernels I think).

Any advice would be much appreciated :/

Thanks for your help,

Jenny.

 

[chick24]

I'm a newbie myself, but that looks like a chick alright! Looks very young too, they start to get in some wingtip feathers at about 1 week old. At that age they need to stay warm! If you want to raise it you will need a heat lamp and chick feed. Also they don't do so well alone, ideally you'd want another chick to keep it company. Maybe you know someone who already has chicks/chickens who would take it?
Good luck! It's so cute!

 

[jennymarieg]

Thanks so much for the reply - it's good to know our guess was right, at least we know vaguely what to do now! It's in a box nearish a radiator at the moment and has chicken feed mushed up. It's a bank holiday here at the moment so none of the 'specialist' shops are open, we had to go to a chain store pet shop. I have a dog and a cat and ZERO experience with chickens so I have no idea what's normal and what's not! S/he's cheeping pretty much all the time at the moment, though seems to prefer being held. I've spread the word at the moment to try and find someone with chickens who can take it in.

Thank you!

Oh, also it does have teeny flappy wings and is pretty spry - curious too!

 

[ChickenPalz]

I don't know if it is a chick,but if you go to local feed store (if there is one)bring a picture of your little guy and ask for the feed and water container to drink out of.hope that helped

 

[chick24]

Here is a good guide for chick raising, so at least you can try and keep it alive till it finds a home. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...ks-the-first-60-days-of-raising-baby-chickens

It is likely doing all that peeping because it is lonely and distressed. My chicks are generally pretty quiet until they get separated and then they get loud! I'm sure it fnds the warmth and your company soothing when you hold it. Make sure it drinks. . .you may have to dip it's beak in the water so it knows where it is.

 

[jennymarieg]

I don't know if it is a chick,but if you go to local feed store (if there is one)bring a picture of your little guy and ask for the feed and water container to drink out of.hope that helped

Thanks I will - if he makes it til the morning :/ He relaxes plenty when I hold him, but cheeps a lot and sits his bum in the water I put out when in the box! I'm worried he's going to make himself cold if he keeps doing that but don't want to take the water away.

Hopefully I can get a proper water container tomorrow - thank you!

 

[chick24]

Thanks I will - if he makes it til the morning :/ He relaxes plenty when I hold him, but cheeps a lot and sits his bum in the water I put out when in the box! I'm worried he's going to make himself cold if he keeps doing that but don't want to take the water away.

Hopefully I can get a proper water container tomorrow - thank you!

Yeah, you don't want them to be wet! They will get chilled.

 

[jennymarieg]

Here is a good guide for chick raising, so at least you can try and keep it alive till it finds a home. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...ks-the-first-60-days-of-raising-baby-chickens

It is likely doing all that peeping because it is lonely and distressed. My chicks are generally pretty quiet until they get separated and then they get loud! I'm sure it fnds the warmth and your company soothing when you hold it. Make sure it drinks. . .you may have to dip it's beak in the water so it knows where it is.

Thanks I read about dipping the beak - I will give it another go. Though he seems to keep sitting his bum in it more than anything else!

I put a small (not sharp edged) mirror in the box too, hoping that will help for when I have to leave him in there.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the advice very much and will let you know what happens!

 

[jennymarieg]

Oh heck, think I may not have a chicken but a pheasant chick! http://www.arkive.org/pheasant/phasianus-colchicus/image-A9715.html

 

[annewandering]

Oh heck, think I may not have a chicken but a pheasant chick! http://www.arkive.org/pheasant/phasianus-colchicus/image-A9715.html

lol it does look very similar. Dont imagine the care would be much different though. I believe there is a pheasant forum on here that would not hurt to check out.