Lone chick - here are my options

[TJAnonymous]

I have a hen who has 3 babies. Last night I realized that she abandoned/left one outside. I really want this chick to live and grow up. She is normally a good mother so I was concerned about why she abandoned the chick. It was late in the evening when I rescued the little peeper. Instead of giving her back to her mom, I slid her under another broody whose eggs haven't hatched yet but are close. When I check on them this morning, the foster hen was still sitting on the chick. We had torrential downpours today so the foster hen didn't come out of the coop until late afternoon. But when she did, she pretty much abandoned the chick too. Luckily I realized it before the chick was seriously injured. It was cold and stumbling around but otherwise ok. I have warmed her back up and she seems healthy with a strong chirper....

So now I'm in a dilemma about what to do. Here are my options:

1) try to give her back to her original mom
2) try to give her to a different broody who already has 2 babies of similar size
3) keep her inside and hand-raise her. If I choose this option, I will likely try to steal a friend from a broody to raise together although this might leave her lonely for several days in the meantime. (I have 5 hens sitting on eggs right now)

Did I mention that I REALLY want her to grow up?? So I'm worried that if I give her to another hen that she will not make it because she has already been abandoned twice now.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I think the least risky option is #3. Solo chicks can be raised and successfully integrated when they're large enough.

Best of luck!

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

I have a hen who has 3 babies. Last night I realized that she abandoned/left one outside. I really want this chick to live and grow up. She is normally a good mother so I was concerned about why she abandoned the chick. It was late in the evening when I rescued the little peeper. Instead of giving her back to her mom, I slid her under another broody whose eggs haven't hatched yet but are close. When I check on them this morning, the foster hen was still sitting on the chick. We had torrential downpours today so the foster hen didn't come out of the coop until late afternoon. But when she did, she pretty much abandoned the chick too. Luckily I realized it before the chick was seriously injured. It was cold and stumbling around but otherwise ok. I have warmed her back up and she seems healthy with a strong chirper....

So now I'm in a dilemma about what to do. Here are my options:

1) try to give her back to her original mom
2) try to give her to a different broody who already has 2 babies of similar size
3) keep her inside and hand-raise her. If I choose this option, I will likely try to steal a friend from a broody to raise together although this might leave her lonely for several days in the meantime. (I have 5 hens sitting on eggs right now)

Did I mention that I REALLY want her to grow up?? So I'm worried that if I give her to another hen that she will not make it because she has already been abandoned twice now.

I would do number three and give her electrolytes
See how she does and that will depend if you want to add another friend this would be the best option if you would like her to live.

 

[TJAnonymous]

She is eating and seems healthy. She finally found the water... She fell into the bowl (it wasn't deep) and couldn't stop drinking. Now she is tuckered out....

 

[Battlepants]

Perhaps an option #4 - create a hybrid broody operation?

Is it possible to set up your brooder so that your hen with 2 is able to sit in there as well? Just put up a little fence between the hen+2 and the solo chick so the hen can't beat up on the solo, but the solo can still interact with the +2?

 

[TJAnonymous]

Perhaps an option #4 - create a hybrid broody operation?

Is it possible to set up your brooder so that your hen with 2 is able to sit in there as well? Just put up a little fence between the hen+2 and the solo chick so the hen can't beat up on the solo, but the solo can still interact with the +2?

well, yes and no. I don't have a way to do that inside the coop...there simply isn't enough room or any way to keep the baby safe from the other chickens.

However...

the other broody with the 2 babies of similar size is a Silkie. That means that I *could* bring her & her babies into my sunroom for a few days and put them in a puppy playpen. This would allow me to supervise and ensure the broody is bonding with the chick in a semi-controlled environment.

The potential pitfall to this arrangement is if this chick bonds to the Silkie babies then it might make it harder to integrate the chick into my main coop later? I keep my Silkies in a separate coop from the big chickens.

 

[TJAnonymous]

She was chirping very loudly so I picked her up and put her on my chest. She has since buried herself in the nape of my neck under all my hair. Now she's as quiet as a church mouse...

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

She was chirping very loudly so I picked her up and put her on my chest. She has since buried herself in the nape of my neck under all my hair. Now she's as quiet as a church mouse...

That's the happiest kind

 

[TJAnonymous]

That's the happiest kind

True...lol. She does seem very content back there! The only problem is now I'm afraid to move because she might fall behind me and get squished against the chair.

And she tickles me every time she moves.

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

True...lol. She does seem very content back there! The only problem is now I'm afraid to move because she might fall behind me and get squished against the chair.

And she tickles me every time she moves.

I can relate to that lmao...do you really want to move anyways lol