Single silkie chick

[Nena4o8]

I purchased 5 silkies from a hatchery in which 4 arrived weak and 1 arrived healthy and active. I’ve attempted to revive them , but they slowly died. The last weak sick died today. I now have 1 single chick that’s 1 week old. Would it be an issue if I raised just one or should I find local silkies to match with her?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is that your only chicken or do you have others (older chicks, adults)?

If she's a solo bird, yes you should try to get other birds so she won't be alone. Ideally you'd want to get chicks roughly the same age.

 

[Nena4o8]

Yes, this is my only chick/chicken that I own. I do own rabbits , a dog and a cat. I’ve been having a hard time finding silkies available within city. At this moment I do have a stuff toy and a mirror inside her closure to give her comfort. She still seems active and eating.
Please let me know if anybody knows where I can get a 1-2 week silkie so that my silkie won’t be alone. I’ve checked the local TSC and they don’t have any.

 

[Amreid]

We recently had the same kind of experience. We were hatching four and only 1 survived. This single chick seemed so bored and so lonely that it was heartbreaking. After 2 days of watching her mope around I went to Tractor Supply and bought 4 chicks that were a week old, which was the same age as mine. That really perked her up and now she is playing with them and looks so much happier! I highly recommend getting yours some siblings!

 

[Nena4o8]

Can I put my lone silkie with my baby rabbits? The hatchery plans to replace the baby chicks that passed, but that’s not until the 21.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Can you find any other breeds of chicks? Since it's a Silkie a docile breed like a Faverolles or another bantam would be preferable.

If not, even if it takes a few weeks to get new chicks, at least when the new babies get a little bigger they can all still grow up together, so she'll still end up having a flock.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x In the mean time ... get a feather duster or a stuffed animal under heat lite or heating pad, you can also use a mirror (reflection = another chick), keep a radio on. I've raised single chicks, its can be done. One week difference isn't so bad, in the mean time give it some extra TLC. I do not recommend putting it with your bunnies.

 

[Nena4o8]

2x In the mean time ... get a feather duster or a stuffed animal under heat lite or heating pad, you can also use a mirror (reflection = another chick), keep a radio on. I've raised single chicks, its can be done. One week difference isn't so bad, in the mean time give it some extra TLC. I do not recommend putting it with your bunnies.

I do have a fuzzy toy with her and a mirror at the moment. I’ve seen her cuddle with the fuzzy toy and constantly look at the mirror. I just don’t want her to be lonely during the mean time.