Even though this is several topics, I'm posting here because I need help from SE Michigan.
Here is the background: One of our beloved pets was killed by a hawk last week.
. My mistake for thinking only young chicks were in danger.
. Until we build a fully enclosed play run as an addition to their current run I have fencing with twine running across, I'm out there and I even make the dogs help. Since the pullet was one of my daughter's favorites we decided to try to keep her memory by trying to hatch her babies. We took all the eggs we had (even from the fridge) and put them in the incubator. It looks like only one egg is developing and I think it is from the hen we lost since only 2 were laying and it is a slightly lighter color. Because our older chickens are only 25 weeks I am surprised even one is developing. I really hope it makes it through. If so it will be a Bantam Cochin or Bantam Frizzled / Silkie Mix. The other 24-week-olds are a Polish pullet, 2 Bantam pullets and a Silkie cockerel. We also have a pair of 18-week-old Welsh Halequin ducks and 3 17-week-old standard size pullets (although I suspect
TSC may have been wrong and one is a cockerel). What was nice was the ducks and young chicks were raised together & with the ducks growing faster than chickens, the ducks protected the young chicks from any bullying when we finally mixed both groups. They all go near each other, but still act like two separate flocks.
My problem: besides having a chick in October, it looks like we'll only have one chick hatching. I need a baby bird to be it's friend when it hatches about Oct 7th. I'm posting this for advice and help finding a baby. We were thinking of getting an East Indie duckling in the spring and I think someone has a hatch from last weekend. Would a 3-week-old small breed duckling be a problem with a newborn chick? We were also thinking of raising pheasants for release. Would some pheasant chicks do well with a Bantam chick? It was nice having the ducks protect the other group of young chicks so is there some other bird I should try? If I raise a standard size chick with this Bantam chick will it just get picked on? One of the 25-week-old pullets is sweet and doesn't bully, she gets picked on. Would she accept a chick without being broody? Of course my choices are limited to what is available nearby in SE Michigan. The Frankenmuth FowlFest is hatch weekend, so will there be day-old chicks there? Should I raise it alone or am I right that it will be too lonely young and then won't have a friend when its older?
Please give advice and help me find a chick to be a friend for what looks like the only developing chick out of 8 eggs which i hope will hatch Oct 7.
Exercising is all done for the day. So now off to get everyone rolling and school started. Have a wonderful day everyone!
