Loneliness?

[MotherHen75]

I have read a lot about social animals needing friends, I'm incubating eggs and 2 of 6 eggs are showing progress. I removed the infertile ones and 8 days later I put in 15 bantams eggs, which only a few are showing progress. If only one of the first batch of chicks hatches, is 8 days enough for it to die or will it be fine? I have some fully grown chickens but none of them are broody, so I took the eggs. (We have a rooster.) So I could take the chick outside to socialize with the older chickens, I would always be watching, I do not trust my rooster. (He killed 2 other roosters and once in awhile he kicks me, I always kick him back)

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Roosters (not the same as a young cockerel) usually protect chicks as it may be their offspring. Kicking at him just escalates the behavior that you are seeing. Attitude breeds forward... human aggressive roosters always welcome at freezer camp!

A chick won't die in 8 days from loneliness... it will be loud. and maybe need you to run your finger through the feed to encourage pecking as shyer chicks follow and learn from more curious ones. You become it's friend until it gets more, and it should be fine. Feed store chicks are always an option this time of year when a companion is needed.

There is no such thing as socializing a very young chick with an older flock. A look but don't touch set up to start off with is often used.


Do you have a plan for how to turn the less developed eggs during lock down of your first hatching ones? And have you researched how to work with humidity since you are now doing a staggered hatch? Or do you have a second incubator you are working with?

Are you using a calibrated hygrometer/thermometer?

Happy hatching!

 

[chickens really]

A mirror and a teddy works great for single chicks or Ducklings. They bond to their own reflection till more are hatched.