We have a chick and I just left town 😬

[Lulu-vt]

I just left town and my 19 year old son called and said “come back we have a chick!”
We have had broody hens. I know I should have been more prepared but I’m not. I wasn’t sure when they started sitting on eggs.
What should I tell my son to do? When does the chick need food and water?
He can partition part of the coop off for the broody hens (3) and their shared clutch of eggs along with the chick. We have 10 other year old hens and a roo.

Do I need a warming plate if I have three broodies to give warmth?

I have chicken starter that we put in the nesting box today but there’s no access to water inside the coop so nothing for the chick until we set something up tomorrow.

What do I need to have my son do and tell him to beware of? The chick was very fluffy when we first saw him and he was peeping under mom.

Sadly two other eggs that we saw were partially cracked but the chick didn’t make it out. I should have incubated, but kind of wanted it to happen (or not) the natural way. Now I find that I’m wanting to interfere a little to make sure they are safe and have what they need.

There are a bunch of other eggs with no signs of life yet.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I just left town and my 19 year old son called and said “come back we have a chick!”
We have had broody hens. I know I should have been more prepared but I’m not. I wasn’t sure when they started sitting on eggs.
What should I tell my son to do? When does the chick need food and water?

The chick will be okay till about Day Three. Son can put food in a dish and a chick waterer out there if you have one. Not a dish, or chick can fall in, get wet and cold or possibly drown.

He can partition part of the coop off for the broody hens (3) and their shared clutch of eggs along with the chick. We have 10 other year old hens and a roo.

Do I need a warming plate if I have three broodies to give warmth?

Nope. Mom will keep chick plenty warm.

I have chicken starter that we put in the nesting box today but there’s no access to water inside the coop so nothing for the chick until we set something up tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be fine.

What do I need to have my son do and tell him to beware of? The chick was very fluffy when we first saw him and he was peeping under mom.

Mama hen should take care of everything, relax.

Sadly two other eggs that we saw were partially cracked but the chick didn’t make it out. I should have incubated, but kind of wanted it to happen (or not) the natural way. Now I find that I’m wanting to interfere a little to make sure they are safe and have what they need.

There are a bunch of other eggs with no signs of life yet.

See above.