What to do with a single chick

[ladybuggarden]

So far only one of my chicks has hatched out of my recent batch and I'm on day 23 so I'm not sure if I'll get anymore. This little one hatched yesterday morning. He has been wanting to cuddle up with me most of the day. I put a stuffed animal in with it but little chick only lasts about an hour before it is peeping its head off. I have some RIR chicks that are about 3 weeks old. Is it possible to integrate my little one with them? I dont know if it will be likely for me to find any chicks available in my area at this time of year. Any suggestions? Is little chick going to end up a pet?

 

[monathequeen]

HI,
THAT LITTLE CHICK IS SO BEAUTIFUL.......OH MY !!!
I HAD FOUR BABY CHICKS HATCH 8 WEEK AGO. i STARTED WITH 8 EGGS AND ONLY FOUR MADE IT. TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I WAS SO WORRIED THAT I WOULD END UP WITH JUST ONE.
WELL, THE NEXT DAY AND THE DAY AFTER AND THE DAY AFTER THAT, THERE WERE FOUR....DON'T GIVE UP YET.
IF THE EGGS WERE DEAD, THE HEN USUALLY KNOWS AND WILL TOSS THEM OUT OF THE NEST OR WILL STOP SITTING ON THEM.

ARE YOU HATCHING ARTIFICIALLY OR WITH A HEN ?? IF A HEN IS SITTING, SHE WILL CONTINUE TO SIT UNTIL THE REST HATCH. LEAVE THE BABY WITH HER SO THEY CAN BOND. I HOPE YOU DIDN'T TAKE THE BABY CHICK AWAY FROM MOM..........
IF YOU USED A INCUBATOR, YOU MAY END UP WITH JUST ONE BUT YOU CAN RAISE IT INDOORS IN A BOX AS LONG AS YOU PROPERLY FEED, WATER AND PROVIDE HEAT FOR THE CHIC, IT WILL BE FINE AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE MOVED TO THE COOP AFTER ABOUT 12 WEEKS. IT WILL BE FUN HAVING A BABY CHICK INDOORS AND SHE WILL BOND WITH YOU BUT WHEN YOU INTERGRATE HER TO THE OTHERS, SHE WILL GET OVER YOU IN NO TIME. SAD BUT TRUE...ENJOY HER NOW THAT YOU CAN...

YOU CAN PUT HER WITH THE OTHER THREE WEEK OLD CHICKS NOW BUT I WOULD REALLY KEEP A GOOD CAREFUL EYE ON HER TO SEE IF SHE WILL BE PICKED ON...I DON'T THINK SHE WILL SINCE THE THREE WEEK OLD'S REALLY DON'T KNOW ANY DIFFERENT...

 

[Yvonne37894]

I have chicks hatching every week.
I put 1-1week old chick in with the newborn as soon as the are walking to teach them to drink and eat.
I would put 1 of the 3 week old chicks in with this one untill it is getting around good then put both in the group.

 

[mamaKate]

I rescued a feed store guinea keet that was left alone and not doing well. I bought him a 2 or 3 week old EE and he cuddled under her feathers. He thinks she's his mom.

 

[Highland Moongazer]

I'd check the local feed store to see if there's anything, and barring that call up one of the smaller-order hatcheries and request a few of whatever they can send Monday.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

Out of 10 eggs I tried to hatch, only 1 made it (thanks to a very clutzy hen). I ended up going to the feed store & buying 2 more chicks to keep it company. These chicks were about 1 1/2 - 2 weeks old and the 3 of them got along fine (but the older ones w ere EEs, typically a gentle breed anyway). You can try to integrate it with your 3 week olds (under a very careful eye) and if it doesn't work, go get another chick and integrate the 2 of them in a couple weeks.

 

[ladybuggarden]

Thank you everyone for the advice. I decided after an evening of pampering little Peep (my husband and son have named the little chick Peep as that is all he did last night unless he was being held), to put one of my 3 week old RIR chicks in with the little one.

I was concerned cause my RIR are pretty aggressive with each other at times but I figured I'd spend the morning keeping an eye on them to see how they did. Well...

The RIR was mothering little Peep and tucking him in, showing him how to eat and drink. It was awesome to see. Peep still gets loud if he notices me looking in and wants to be picked up and cuddled but he is much quieter with his buddy around.

 

[SallyF]

Now THAT is the cutest picture I've seen here in weeks!

 

[crazychicken]

a very cute picture !

 

[SunnyChic]

That is a totally precious pic! That's great that the chick has found a buddy!