Please Help!!!!!

[Schulli]

PLEASE HELP!!!! Okay, I know nothing about raising a chick...and now I have one. I live in the Cayman Islands where stray Chickens and Roosters run RAMPT!!!!! A few days ago a mamma and her chicks wandered into my friends yard where they were killed by her dog...all except one. This chick is very small, just barely has it's feathers, and follows me everywhere. It crys ALOT if it is not in my hands (although I do ignore that as I beleive that it is going on instict...thinking that it has lost me???) Someone told me that if I leave the chick alone while I am at work that it will die. That the chick HAS to be with me at all times. Is there truth to this?
Also, I had read on this website that chicks are very prone to illness. As I had mentioned, we have crazy wild chickens here on Cayman and their living conditions are VERY POOR. Most live off of human garbage. You see them digging through trash cans...very simular to crows or pigions in North America...here they are considered vermin! It's really sad to see! Anyways, this prone to illness, is this true for all chicks or are some breeds less prone then others? Do you think we may have a heartier breed down here being as they have been wild for hundreds of years? I can't find medicated feed for this chick and I really don't want it to get sick! What else can I do to prevent this?
REALLY I JUST NEED HELP! This is a small island in the caribbean and I do not have access to all the fancy gadgets that this website recommends...can someone out there help me? I can't find any chick feed (medicated or non) or feeders...what are some alternate methods? I would like to keep this chick for as long as it lives (and I would prefer it to live a long happy life!) I haven't been keeping it in a cage, she just comes along with me around the house and out and about...also, she doesn't seem to poop much. Is this a sign of malnurishment?

 

[MareeZoCool]

Hi, I'm no expert, have only been raising chickens almost one year. I think I'd try finding some fresh grasses, dirt & small bugs to smash into the dirt & grass, place it on the floor of the box or pen you're keeping your chick in. When my chicks were a few days old I placed a stuffed animal in with them, they huddled under it, like they woul a momma hen. You might also try placing a ticking clock in there(same as for a puppy). The noise might give some comfort. We played a radio near our peeps, just to keep them adapted to human noises.

 

[QuackerOats]

I'm not really an expert either... but not to worry!

Don't worry about getting the chick sick, as long as you keep the environment clean, he will probably be just fine.

Thats great he follows you around too!

I don't think the chick will die if you leave it home while your at work, as long as he have food and water. I had to leave my new chicks home for a few hours and they are doing great.

Chicks really don't NEED all the fancy supplies we give them.. remember these were once wild birds fending for themselves! A big cardboard box or cage with a light to keep them warm will do fine. You can cut a paper cup down for a food dish or find anything in your kitchen.

If you can, buy some chick starter online. I found it being sold off Amazon.com. Growing chicks would have about 20% protein (I think!) if they were eating chick starter. Try making a hard boiled egg. Other tasty food include, yogurt, veggies, fruit, and my chicks LOVE oatmeal! Once you give it to them, the games begin of "hide" and "take away"! If you are going to feed the chick something other than chick starter, be sure to also provide him with grit. Grit is important because it helps with the digestive process. Free rangers usually find their own grit, but little chicks and caged birds need it provided to them.

Good luck with your new chick! They're AWESOME!

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

keep that chick WARM!! Can you show us a picture of it? Maybe we can help you with the age as they are born fully feathered, they dont get feathers like birds. Unless you mean that its getting the teen look to it??

Definetly try to get some food into it, keep water available at all times. but you must keep it warm!!!

 

[jbowyer01]

It wont die without you. I keep my chicks in a large box with a heatlamp and some food and water (the water is a small dish with marbles in it so the chick doesnt have a chance of drowning, you can use small rocks). I also have paper towels in the box layed out for easy clean u (just dont use newspaper it can cause spraddle leg but you could probably use some dirt and grass clippings.) I also will use a small stuffed animal to keep a single chick company though its just for the chicks comfort. You dont have to have medicated starter but if you can find regular chicken feed and maybe grind it up its better than nothing. You'll have a little friend that will follow you around everywhere now

Chickens can make great pets, even my rooster follows me around. Good luck with the little one.

 

[chicmom]

Hey there! No need to panic. Just buy some chick food, and get a light on that baby, which will help keep it warm. Also you will need a very shallow dish of water. You can use a plastic storage bin or even a cardboard box or an aquarium. put some pine shavings in there, point the light in a corner, and you could put a tiny stuffed animal in there for the chick to snuggle up to. It will be fine.

One thing is crucial......you want the temp under the light to be around 80 to keep that chick comfortable. Alot of peeping sometimes is from a chick being chilly. Be very careful not to overheat the chick (or chill the chick). You can get a thermometer for a few bucks at the farm store.

Good luck!
Sharon

 

[Schulli]

Thanks so much for tips! I uploaded a few pic's I hope that they are visible to everyone! Maybe someone might be able to tell me how old she/he is? Shellbee sure is a funny little bird!I have been feeding her oats and bread so far. I have to take her outside, put the food in sand and scratch/peck at it with my fingers in order to get her to eat. How often do they need to eat? How can I get her to eat without my assistance? Again thatnks for the tips! I will go out today and try to find chick feed and a lamp...although it's 80 degrees in my house now hahaha! Gotta love that Caribbean weather

 

[QuackerOats]

How often do they need to eat?

Chickens will eat as much food as they need on their own. So it can be available 24/7 and they won't eat too much.

Unlike my dog!!!