Question On Raising Chicks

[fdodgen]

Well, my wife just got beside herself today. Our hen

just hatched a newborn chick on the 28th, here it is a day old and the hen will not let us near the chick.

Proud Parents.



Question in the wild how does the mama hen care for her young?
Does she have a way to feed it, or does it naturally have instincts to feed and take care of itself?

Or do we have to feed it seperate food from the adult hens an rooster we have in the coop?

 

[greathorse]

Get the hen and the chick to an area that is isolated from the rest and make sure there is food and water available that is appropriate for the chick in both availabilty and food. The hen will get that chick out of the nest when the time is right and guide it to food.

The chick can go for a few days without food or water. That is exactly what happens with chicks that are shipped in the mail. They live off the yolk for a few days until they have the sense and mobility to find food. The hen will guide and protect but does not bring food to them like a Robin on a nest etc.

 

[Judy]

Many on here let the hen raise the chick right in with her flock. That is what I do. She should protect the chick from the others as needed. Since she won't let you near the chick, I suspect she will do a good job of protecting it from others as well.

Just put out starter and water that the chick can reach and let them all eat starter til it gets bigger. She will show it how to eat and drink, and will offer it food. If you have laying hens in the flock, put out oyster shell so the hens can get the calcium they need. The chick should eat little or none of the oyster shell. Don't let the chick eat layer feed, it can damage their kidneys.