One hatched chick?

[MoonOfficial]

After having multiple eggs in the incubator only one made it to lockdown down and hatched today. I am now worried that it will be lonely! Ive seen some people suggest stuffed animals and feather dusters and others suggest just buying more chicks! What is my best option realistically? I only have one hen and shes blind so I don’t think giving her a chick would be a great idea. Any help is amazing!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

That is an incubator hatch so your hen is not broody. Do not try to give her any chicks, it will not work.

What is my best option realistically?

There are different options. I do not know which you would consider "best". Chickens are flock animals so they typically do best with other chickens in the flock but it sounds like you hen may be by herself.

If you can get more chicks the same age and raise them together the loneliness issue is solved.

You can try raising it yourself. Putting a small mirror in the brooder so it can see its reflection can help keep it from being so lonely. A small stuffed animal or a feather duster may give it a way to cuddle if it wants to. It may imprint on you and only be happy when you are around.

In a month you can try integrating it with the hen, that may or may not work. You don't get guarantees with living animals. But until then it will do better with something to comfort it.

 

[MoonOfficial]

Thank you! I have been lurking on here for a few months to learn more about my new friends! Im going to consider both options and weigh the pros and cons. I appreciate the advice and honesty!

 

[Debbie292d]

We've raised what I call an "orphan" three different times when I wanted to keep just one chick from a hatch and sold the rest.

The brooder at the times I did this was in our livingroom about 6' from the television. That quieted them down, any channel, even the news. I also told hubby to take that route and visit the chick often as he could, as did I. The mirror is a great idea. I didn't do stuffed animals as I was afraid of any chemical residue that maybe is baby safe, but not a baby chick. I made a basket out of a shallow sandwich tupperware with an old ripped up t-shirt. It liked snuggling in that.

 

[MoonOfficial]

We've raised what I call an "orphan" three different times when I wanted to keep just one chick from a hatch and sold the rest.

The brooder at the times I did this was in our livingroom about 6' from the television. That quieted them down, any channel, even the news. I also told hubby to take that route and visit the chick often as he could, as did I. The mirror is a great idea. I didn't do stuffed animals as I was afraid of any chemical residue that maybe is baby safe, but not a baby chick. I made a basket out of a shallow sandwich tupperware with an old ripped up t-shirt. It liked snuggling in that.

I didn’t even think about a little basket that’s brilliant! The TV might be a bit difficult for us we do have a few dogs and cats roaming. I’m definitely planning on finding a little mirror and I work from home so hopefully I can be relatively attentive to it! Thank you for the advice I really appreciate it

 

[Debbie292d]

I didn’t even think about a little basket that’s brilliant! The TV might be a bit difficult for us we do have a few dogs and cats roaming. I’m definitely planning on finding a little mirror and I work from home so hopefully I can be relatively attentive to it! Thank you for the advice I really appreciate it

Even a radio would work. Just so it's hearing voices seems to help.

 

[MoonOfficial]

Even a radio would work. Just so it's hearing voices seems to help.

Thats actually perfect I just found an old radio in my closet like a week ago! I’ll leave it playing on a talk show or something when im out. Thank you!