URGENT! Please help

[mya_975]

I had 9 chicks and lost 2 in early stages and then one hatched a few days ago (day 18) but no others did. Today was day 21 and none had still hatched. My neighbor who has hatched chicks told me to check them with a flashlight again so we did just now and saw no movement in any of them. The one chick that hatched is doing very well and is getting a TON of attention and has a mirror and stuffed animal in the brooder. So we decided to order more chicks from tractor supply that will be here in a few days. Do you think that it will be okay if the chick we have now is in the brooder with day old chicks since he will be a week old by then probably? Any help is appreciated

 

[KreetchaKeepa]

In my experience, yes, they should get along.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

She will probably be okay, since you are getting more than one extra chick. I'd probably keep the new chicks separate for a few days, until they are eating and drinking well, and plenty active. They'll need to be able to escape the big bully being put in their midst.

Provide something for them to hide under or behind, lots of "clutter" in the brooder. I have their thermometer taped to a wire-and-cardboard 'stand' for one. I have a scrap of fabric draped over a wire protector from a heat lamp - turned upside down, like a little tent. They LOVE it. A wood scap that can stand on edge without tipping over, or secured to the side of the brooder. ... etc. ...

 

[NatJ]

In my experience, yes, they should get along.

I agree. Several just-arrived chicks, with one chick who is a week older, are likely to do just fine.

 

[mya_975]

She will probably be okay, since you are getting more than one extra chick. I'd probably keep the new chicks separate for a few days, until they are eating and drinking well, and plenty active. They'll need to be able to escape the big bully being put in their midst.

Provide something for them to hide under or behind, lots of "clutter" in the brooder. I have their thermometer taped to a wire-and-cardboard 'stand' for one. I have a scrap of fabric draped over a wire protector from a heat lamp - turned upside down, like a little tent. They LOVE it. A wood scap that can stand on edge without tipping over, or secured to the side of the brooder. ... etc. ...

Thank you! I’ll definitely try that

 

[NatJ]

I'd probably keep the new chicks separate for a few days, until they are eating and drinking well, and plenty active. They'll need to be able to escape the big bully being put in their midst.

If the new chicks seem weak or slow, I agree about keeping them separate until they are doing better. A piece of hardware cloth to divide the brooder would be one way to do that.

But if the newly-arrived chicks seem lively enough, I would put them together right away. I wouldn't worry about whether the new ones have learned to eat and drink yet-- they will probably follow the example of the older one, and catch on just fine. Of course, keep an eye on the situation, to be sure they do start eating and drinking and so you can separate them if the older one is too rambunctious. But it hasn't been a problem for me, when I have combined chicks that are a week apart in age.

 

[Silkie Chick 345]

Hi, I just tried to hatch Silkie chicks and only one egg hatched. I have candled the others at a week and today and do not think the others developed. Does anyone have advice on whether I can add chicks to the one I have (one day old) and what is the maximum age? The youngest chicks I can find are two weeks old, but I am calling around and will drive to collect. I have a brooder and warming plate. Also a Wyandotte bantam with 12 week old chicks under her. Thank you for any advice. Apologies to jump into a thread with more questions, but did not want to start another similar.

 

[NatJ]

Apologies to jump into a thread with more questions, but did not want to start another similar.

On this forum, the convention is for each person to start a new thread with their question, even if it is a similar question. Sometimes a similar question has a different answer in different cases, and sometimes it just gets confusing to keep straight which details go with which question.

In this particular case, your question is different enough that the answer is different.

Hi, I just tried to hatch Silkie chicks and only one egg hatched. I have candled the others at a week and today and do not think the others developed. Does anyone have advice on whether I can add chicks to the one I have (one day old) and what is the maximum age? The youngest chicks I can find are two weeks old, but I am calling around and will drive to collect. I have a brooder and warming plate. Also a Wyandotte bantam with 12 week old chicks under her. Thank you for any advice. Apologies to jump into a thread with more questions, but did not want to start another similar.

I would not put a single chick that young with ones that are two weeks older.

Putting a single older chick in with a batch of babies can often work fine, but putting a single young one with older chicks is likely to result in a squished little chick.

In your case, I think it might work better to ask what places are expecting to receive chicks soon, or place an order that will be shipped directly to you, so that you get several new chicks that are younger than your singleton.

If you cannot get younger chicks, you could get some older chicks and let them live side-by-side in a divided brooder, so they have each other for company but cannot cause any injuries. Then let them be together in a week or so, when your Silkie is older and stronger. If your new chicks are also Silkies or other bantams it will work better than if the new chicks are breeds that grow bigger and faster than Silkies.

 

[Silkie Chick 345]

Thank you so much for the information - I just found someone with three day old chicks from a small breed, so will drive to collect a few. Will make a divider in case.

Noted on starting a new thread next time. Thank you again!