Orphan baby chick - what to do?

[HJECG]

I've been given a single, orphan baby chick of only a few days old. His (her?) siblings all died the first day.i have him under a heat lamp with chick starter, water, etc, but I'm concerned that he won't thrive all by himself. Does he need another chick or two with him to be okay? He looks so lonely and I want to be sure he's okay. The person who gave him to me was going to put him down, but I'm a huge softie and said to please let me take him. So will he be okay by himself in a brooder?

 

[Marthab1953]

It would be nice if you could get him a friend about his age but if a little teddy bear helps a little. A long time ago I had a lone Guinea-fowl chick hatch and I gave him a little teddy-bear he cuddled up with it all the time and slept with it. Not the best solution but if you cannot get him a live friend at least he has something.

 

[chicken pickin]

If you look on craigslist you may be able to find him a friend or 2, also you could check on your states thread someone may already be hatching and selling chicks, also you could check feed stores in your area some start selling around this time.

Some people do raise single chicks and say they are just fine but I personally feel chicks should be raised with other chicks(or duck, poult, keet etc). I personally have never raised a single and don't plan to, they are social and need others to be raised with it, helps them thrive.

In the mean time like Marthab mentioned, a stuffed animal will help so he can cuddle with it, some people also put a small mirror in the brooder so they can see "another chick". I really think you should search for another chick though.

 

[HJECG]

I am pleased to report that our Silkie hen, Carol, has happily adopted orphan baby. We have them together in a cozy brooder with a nest box, and they seem to be very happy. I don't know how well you can tell in this photo because of the lighting and the bars on the brooder, but this is Carol, and you can see the dark colored baby chick peeking out from under her )

 

[Marthab1953]

I am pleased to report that our Silkie hen, Carol, has happily adopted orphan baby. We have them together in a cozy brooder with a nest box, and they seem to be very happy. I don't know how well you can tell in this photo because of the lighting and the bars on the brooder, but this is Carol, and you can see the dark colored baby chick peeking out from under her )

That is soo sweet! If any chicken would it would be a silkie. I am so happy for both chick and Hen.

 

[chicken pickin]

That is so wonderful! Im glad to see mama Silkie has accepted the chick.

 

[red horse ranch]

I have raised a single chick by itself. My 1st incubation try only produced one chick. I kept her in a cardboard box with a lamp. The only problem I had was that she wanted to be held all the time and did a lot of loud peeping. She wasn't cold, just lonely. We both survived the baby period but to this day she still thinks she's a princess and deserves to live in the house with us. (she doesn't)
But she is now almost 7 years old!

p.s. A mirror for her to sleep next to helps a lot!

 

[HJECG]

Here are a few photos of orphan baby chick (who has now been named "Valentine," of course!). The person who have her/him to me said that she had no idea what breed or mix he/she is. Any guesses from the way she/he looks now as to what her breed or breed mix might be?

[/IMG]

 

[red horse ranch]

It looks like an Australorp to me. They are usually black with white belly.

 

[Cowdoggin]

Yes it is best IF you can find a companion for singly hatched chicks and At least you did find a hen to adopt him.. last Sept we had 1 Belguim d' Anver chick hatch..the other 2 eggs didnt make it.. So poor Mario thought he was a person for the 1st 2 wks of his life. He would screem if my daughter put him down.. We also had 2 Ancona Ducklings that hatched a couple of days later who was Very attached to Mario, (and us) but Mario..not so much.. We finally found some one on CL who had some Silkie chicks about Mario's age.. WE managed to get 1.. It took Mario another week to to decide that he was actaully a chick, and stop needing to be held so much.. He is still a big baby at 5mths old..

We did try to get one of the d' Anver hens to take him..she had lost her clutch of 2 chicks.. the hen really did try, but Mario was just too attached to my daughter to follow the hen.. and after 3 days of trying we simply gave up.. and so did the hen.. Then we got the Silkie chick and finally our 3 wks of H***!!! was over with..lol..

OH and we did try the Stuffed toy thing, but it did not help w/Mario.. If it happens again, we will have to try the mirror..