One Chick...

[Murple]

I have 1 rooster and 14 hens, one of which is a silkie. She incubated eggs and hatched a singular chick out just fine. I think that they were naturally staggered. Mama silkie rejected peep, in all honesty I think she was surprised, so now I have one chick in my room. It has imprinted in me, and I feel so bad that it is all alone! What should I do? I keep her in the little brooder, and she peeps SO DANG LOUD until I take her out. She is literally following me everywhere. How do I get her more company without buying new chicks? We hit our zone limit can I provide the company she needs? Also this chick is two days old. I’ve never had one young enough to imprint haha

 

[50-45-1]

Is the broody still sitting on the rest of the eggs which sounds like staggered batch?
This lone chick will have a rough road when it comes time to join the coop.
Better if there are more his age. Even better if the introduction is made my broody hen.

 

[azygous]

Solitary chicks can integrate well into a flock, but they need to be brooded in proximity to the flock so they and the chick all realize they are a flock.

Many of us brood in our runs or coops. I am currently brooding four chicks in my run using a heating pad system. It's still summer and ideal temps for baby chicks. No heat at all is necessary during the day at 80F.

If you can, set up a secure temporary chick brooder in your run if the run is secure from predators. Be sure it's sheltered from direct sun and weather. Of course you will need a power supply, but a temporary extension cord is safe enough.

The chick will be less lonely and the other chickens will get used to this chick growing up in front of them. By age three weeks, with suitable chick size pop holes in the chick brooder pen, the chick can begin to mingle safely with the other chickens. Here's what I'm talking about. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/

 

[Murple]

Solitary chicks can integrate well into a flock, but they need to be brooded in proximity to the flock so they and the chick all realize they are a flock.

Many of us brood in our runs or coops. I am currently brooding four chicks in my run using a heating pad system. It's still summer and ideal temps for baby chicks. No heat at all is necessary during the day at 80F.

If you can, set up a secure temporary chick brooder in your run if the run is secure from predators. Be sure it's sheltered from direct sun and weather. Of course you will need a power supply, but a temporary extension cord is safe enough.

The chick will be less lonely and the other chickens will get used to this chick growing up in front of them. By age three weeks, with suitable chick size pop holes in the chick brooder pen, the chick can begin to mingle safely with the other chickens. Here's what I'm talking about. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...and-start-raising-your-chicks-outdoors.71995/

That’s a great plan! I’ve been taking her out a few times a day and the flock doesn’t really seem to mind, it’s just a bit too cold around here for her to go out completely...
our rooster is trying to feed her

 

[Murple]

An update on the situation here, the chick is named "Kernel" and is doing very well. She is still completely imprinted on me, so I take her out for an hour each day -at least until school starts back up....
Her mom does not recognize her anymore (as I expected). Another chick had been hatched out and died. So Kernel is still alone, but seems to be doing fine with the love it gets from me and the happy hens eating her spilt feed.