Lonely chick

[CKfarm22]

What started out with two chicks unfortunately ended with just one. My chick is 5 weeks old and just lost the other chick she was with. Will she get lonely and pass away from not having a companion?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since you have other chickens she should be ok once she's integrated in with them, although a solo integration is tougher for sure. But at least she'll have a flock.

No she won't die of loneliness but a mirror or stuffed animal can give her a sense of companionship for now. Not sure what your integration plans were, but might want to consider integrating earlier rather than later so she'll have companions and can pick up chicken behaviors from the others.

 

[CKfarm22]

I would get her a few friends, in my opinion. Lucky was about 5 weeks when she got friends, too, so I wouldn't worry too much about the age difference. That said, though, I would also get maybe two or more so that she's outnumbered. Lucky got four buddies and there was no fighting.

We ended up getting her three new friends today. Not sure if we’re going to keep all three but here they are!

 

[Folly's place]

Set up a 'safe zone' for her in the coop, so she has a place with her own food and water that the bigger birds can't enter. It's not too cold for a fully feathered chick, she needs to be out there next to the flock, and then integrated with that safe zone available for a while, and more than one feeder and waterer.
Mary

 

[CKfarm22]

Since you have other chickens she should be ok once she's integrated in with them, although a solo integration is tougher for sure. But at least she'll have a flock.

No she won't die of loneliness but a mirror or stuffed animal can give her a sense of companionship for now. Not sure what your integration plans were, but might want to consider integrating earlier rather than later so she'll have companions and can pick up chicken behaviors from the others.

She’s in a see no touch in the coop and once she got bigger we were going to just let her in with the others. But right now those plans might change considering the one died

 

[Folly's place]

Chickens need flockmates, which is why two is never the right number. Find or order a few more, sooner is better than later.
Mary

 

[Aunt Angus]

She’s in a see no touch in the coop and once she got bigger we were going to just let her in with the others. But right now those plans might change considering the one died

In my experience, if there is a large difference in ages, the solo bird may not fit in. I really think it's best to get another bird if you can.

 

[Folly's place]

So it either ran into the fence, or was killed by someone. So sorry for your loss, it's always tough.
mary

 

[Aunt Angus]

The older ones aren’t even 1 year

That may not be too much of an age difference, then. Mine was a difference of 8 months. And some folks say they've not had an issue with a lone chick. I hope it works out for you!

 

[Let There Be Light]

In February we got two bantam chicks for my bantam rooster Toots (he's my profile picture!) before the winter storm hit. Well once it hit we lost electricity and it killed one of the two babies. The survivor was named Lucky, who is now a very sweet hen! She was lonely so we gave her a teddy bear, which she hid under all the time. Finally after recovering from the storm we got her some friends and she didn't hide under the teddy bear anymore.

Edit: So sorry about your other chick!