Orphaned chick hours old

[Beaweezil]

Got home from work at midnight and heard chirping and got all excited cuz this is my first hatch of babies. Grabbed a flashlight and ran into the coop face to face with a coon. Momma hen is gone, two chicks hatched. One is already gone. The other is under a heat lamp in a box with a heating pad underneath. Also in the box are the other 12 eggs.

Will they hatch, should I bother?

What about the chick. Will is make it? It's pretty active and feisty. I don't think the 3" deep box will hold it tomorrow if it makes it.

Man, I need some sleep!

 

[Mahonri]

Good luck and hope you got at least a good swipe at the coon.

You never now... if you put some wet towels in the box and the temp is right, the others might hatch.

 

[threehorses]

Oh yes - bother with it!! raise that baby.

 

[Eggs4Sale]

 

[California Ducken]

I don't know how to make a homemade bator, but if you do a search on here for "homemade brooder" and "homemade incubator" there will be excellent sources and kinds.
They need humidity so get them in a bator ASAP.
You now have 1 chickie to mother for now. Make sure it's between 96 -98 degrees in the brooder that you have it in. Heat is essential. Get a thermometer in there as well. To hot it will die....to cold it will die. If your chick seems lethargic because it feels cold warm it up in your hands. I have brought a few cold chicks back from the grave this way. Get chick starter and vitamins for the waterer. PUT MARBLES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE WATERER. The chick(s) might drown.
Keep us posted.
I kept my chick on my nightstand all night with me. With a heat lamp on it. It slept in a tube sock that I stretched. I would slip her in it and keep her head sticking out. Kind of like a loose fitting sleeping bag. She could easily get out, but could also snuggle all night in it. Since it is alone, it will require attention. They thrive on company. Yes, you will have to have a few tube socks on hand that are being rotated so you can clean and dry the others. But it's soo cute and very worth it!
Okay, keep us posted.
Sending good chickie and "new momma hen" vibes.

Sorry that your momma hen died and your chickie.

 

[Beaweezil]

Well, it's morning and here I sit with a chick on my lap! Nothing from the eggs though. They were pretty cold when I got to them last night.

Oh, and the coon didn't make it either.

This little guy is feisty. Off to read more on handraising him.

 

[Beaweezil]

The saga continues. I went out the coop this morning and found another chick hiding between the food cans. So two chicks, healthy and happy. I can already smell them in my kitchen......

 

[faykokoWV]

we used a plastic baby pool for a brooder and put a window screen over it. A desk lamp with a 100 watt bulb worked for the heat lamp until I was able to buy one. some people on here have used a spare bathtub as a brooder.

 

[Beaweezil]

Good advice faykokoWV... I am just thinking about what to use. The pool idea is good. I bet I could get one this afternoon.

 

[pbjmaker]

I'm glad you found the other chick! Now your first one has a friend - I have heard it is hard to raise a lone chick.

How are the eggs? Do you have a good flashlight you could candle them with to see if there is any hope?