New chickie has arrived :) Where to put them

[vinda]

Hi everyone, hoping you can help.

My hen went broody and I put 6 fertilised eggs under her. Only one made it to hatch 2 days ago and Im not sure what to eventually do with the chick. The chick and her mum are in their own broody box and run at the moment and I know that hens usually stay with the chicks for 4-6 weeks before going back to the flock. Really my question is, could I introduce the chick to the rest of the flock after 6 weeks so it wont be on its own, or should I look to buy another chick asap now and put it in with the chick and its mum? I'm not even sure if the hen would accept the new chick?

The other problem I have is that I dont know if this chick is a boy or a girl. I might need to sell if a boy, so Im worried I'll buy a girl and then will be in the same situation anyway (unless I buy two new girls)

Any advice would be great!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Sorry she only hatched one chick. I am not 100% sure on this one, but I do know the chick will be too small to mix into the flock at 6 weeks of age. And mixing in single chicks is hard enough as it is. If you can find another chick close to his age, you might do this. That way he won't be alone and mixing him in later will be easier. Adding a chick to the broody may work if you do it now. Or you can brood them yourself.

You might want to post this question in our Managing Your Flock section for more input on this. There maybe others their that have dealt with this situation and you can get lots of ideas....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/2/managing-your-flock

Good luck with this little guy. I hope the chick is a pullet!!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! There is a nice article in the Learning Center on raising chicks using broodies. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks Many people put the broody and chick(s) back in the main flock, this really pretty much eliminates the need to integrate the chick since the hen does it for you. If I am going to let the broody raise the chicks with the flock i usually do keep them separate until the chick is a week or two old so I am sure they are doing well, in a cage in the coop etc. You do need to have the whole flock on chick starter or a flock raiser type food if you are going to do that.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

X2 on the advice given above.

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[gander007]

Alright

My broody pullet hatched out a couple of chicks

Each flock has it's own attitude towards chicks and my flock see's new chicks all the time so you need to test your flock ...





This is my introduction cage and the chicks are 3 weeks old and
after 6 weeks the chicks were let out to run free in the yard ....




Here they are with the rest of the flock ...





And yes there are bigger birds in the yard to run from ......






See adults can handle the little guys ...





Around the water bottle .......














gander007