Oh, no, now what? Late hatchling.

[mopalia]

I went out and heard frantic chirping coming from the nest that had been abandoned. (posted earlier about the unexpected dozen.) Found a chick struggling to get out of the shell, and when I picked it up it fell right out. Mom hen won't have anything to do with it. I brought it in and it's in a tupperware container (a huge one) with a heat lamp. What temperature should I be going for? And when should I expect it to stand well on its own? I am really at a loss here. Advice appreciated, especially something about what to expect.

 

[Slothinc]

Put a thermometer under the lamp - in the center it should be 95 degrees (reduce by 5 degrees each week) but the chick must have room to be able to get out of the heat as well, so part of the container should not have the heat on it. The chick should be able to move freely to where it is most comfortable. Put the food and water out of the heat. Is the chick having a hard time walking? If so you may be dealing with splay leg or something else!

 

[Project Blue]

Make sure there's bedding where the chick can get a good grip and not slip. I use pine pellets. Some scute the first day but the legs are underneath them and the toes aren't curled.

 

[mopalia]

Put a thermometer under the lamp - in the center it should be 95 degrees (reduce by 5 degrees each week) but the chick must have room to be able to get out of the heat as well, so part of the container should not have the heat on it. The chick should be able to move freely to where it is most comfortable. Put the food and water out of the heat. Is the chick having a hard time walking? If so you may be dealing with splay leg or something else!

I have a thermometer tracking the temperature, but I'm having trouble keeping it at 95. Getting better at it. It is having trouble standing, but it's pretty new - feathers aren't even dry yet. it's getting the idea of standing, seems to be closer to making it up. Unexpected drama!

Make sure there's bedding where the chick can get a good grip and not slip. I use pine pellets. Some scute the first day but the legs are underneath them and the toes aren't curled.

I have it on a towel but I can change to shavings tomorrow. It's doing pretty well on the towel. It's managing to get its legs under itself and they don't seem to be splayed out. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

 

[Slothinc]

Sounds like you are doing great! For the first little bit you can put the food directly on the towel. Since it is alone, you may need to use your finger to show the chick how to eat and drink. Did you say the mom has other babies? If so, then I think you can integrate this one in a day or so. Like maybe tomorrow night after you make sure it is doing okay, you could slip it under mom. If the mom doesn’t have other babies and isn’t acting broody at all, then I would start looking for a couple of young chicks to buy to be company for this little one.