New baby chicks and advice

[Naimaleonard]

I took one of the baby chicks right now as it seems to be hurt and while it's sitting in my blanket I will set up a box. An important and urgent question: once the new babies hatch with a different hen tomorrow, can I add these two to her clutch ? If I sneak them in, will she accept them and will these two not pose a danger to the other younger hatchlings ?
I will go to the market and see about getting a hanging lamp and see what I can do. I will try digging too for some worms in addition to grains and water. I have absolutely no idea what I am doing and it's stressful to know that if I put her back with her mama she for sure won't survive, but how good of a replacement am I ? Lots of pressure, I hope I can keep her alive until timotomo and did leave the other one with mama as it's doing fine. This one is alert and otherwise seems well just a little injury...can't tell if it's the thigh or wing or just overall from being tumbled probably more than once by the time I saw her. I check on them alot.

 

[Naimaleonard]

They do have to be quick and a little slow they won't make it with her. She is overly excited about digging for food...way over the top and even before she was the biggest scavenger of a chicken.

 

[JudysMuscovy]

I wouldn't give the chick worms as of yet - small chick feed is best - just make sure the chick is drinking water

 

[MissChick@dee]

Fresh plain water. ACV would be kind of harsh on little ones.

 

[Naimaleonard]

She didn't make it. I found a hanging work lamp to try and keep the chick warm but it wasn't enough. I think the type of bulb used just wasn't right maybe due to the injury. The last surviving chick is getting stronger by the day and up until now has figured out how to keep its distance at the right times. My other broody hen doesn't seem to be willing to accept it so for now we will continue to monitor and leave this speedy lil one with mama. I am not giving acv anymore.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

I am very sad to hear all of the hardships you have been having. Please don't be discouraged; consider all of this as experience which will help you from here forward.

The cold, hard truth is that this hen should NEVER be trusted with babies ever again. Some hens make poor mothers and that needs to be accepted. The most likely reason your chicks dying after 3 days would be poor nutrition and/or hydration. For their first 3 days, chicks can survive on their retained yolk sac, which is absorbed before hatching. While scratching and pecking are instinctual, babies have to be taught how to drink by mama hen, and since she was inattentive, they didn't learn. You will need to take over if mom doesn't show them. To teach a baby chick how to drink, show them their water source, then dip their beak in the water to show them what it is.

Now, from this point forward:
Please wait until warmer weather. Please make sure you have a box with straw and a heat lamp for the babies ready to go, in case anything goes wrong. I think preparedness and a plan for any complications will be the best way to go. If you see a hen harming or neglecting her babies, pull them immediately! Give clean water with no ACV at first. I am not sure where you are in Africa, but I did find some links to good info:

https://www.ananzi.co.za/ads/pets/poultry-starter-feed.html

https://www.africa-uganda-business-travel-guide.com/how-best-to-feed-your-kuroiler-chicken.html

https://www.farmerstrend.co.ke/a-complete-guide-on-poultry-feed-formulation-and-calculations-kenya/

http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/raising-baby-chicks.html


I hope some of this is useful! Read lots, and never hesitate to ask further questions. We are all here to help you along the way.