What to do with solo chick

[PuddleEndChicken]

I have a healthy Old English Gamefowl (fighting cock) chick that is 5 weeks old and the sole survivor of a bad hatch where the humidity was too low and the rest didn't hatch properly. It is really lonely especially since its only other hatching mate died of wry neck/splay legs at 4 weeks.

I'm wondering what to do with it.

I've hatched 6 Pekin bantams and 5 Hamburgs in an incubator that are 8 weeks old.

My Old English Gamefowl hen (fighting cock) has hatched 5 chicks herself that are 2 weeks old.

I'm wondering whether I could put the sole chick in with either of these groups - I know that it's not advised if the chicks are more than 2 weeks apart in age.

I thought I could try it in under the hen with the younger chicks - but she is vicious and might hurt it and/or reject it ? Also it might it bully the smaller chicks ?

Or could I put it in with one or two of the smallest/females of the 8 week old Pekin bantams? A Gamefowl is quite feisty and it might hold it's own with other more docile breeds like female Pekin Bantams despite the size difference.

Or I could put it in with a couple of female Hamburgs - they are quite feisty too but are not that different in size aged 8 weeks than a 5 week old Gamefowl.

Any suggestions, I don't really want to bring this one up alone with just a mirror for company ?

Thank you.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Of the choices you've listed, I'd choose the 8 week old Pekin bantams for companions, under the strictest observation and ready to intervene if trouble starts. The hen with chicks will likely know it's not hers and reject it.

 

[PuddleEndChicken]

Of the choices you've listed, I'd choose the 8 week old Pekin bantams for companions, under the strictest observation and ready to intervene if trouble starts. The hen with chicks will likely know it's not hers and reject it.

@Buckeye Amy thank you I will give that a try.

 

[PuddleEndChicken]

@Buckeye Amy OK I put the lone chick in with the most docile female Pekin bantam into a new crate and for the next 20 minutes she bullied the chick until it was cowering in the corner, so I took out the bantam.

Not sure what to do now - would it have settled down eventually ? How long should I have given them ? Should I have another go tomorrow maybe with a different female bantam ?

Really had hoped that the chick wouldn't be on it's own. Several times it's escaped from it's box and gone and stood outside the bantam run because it can hear them cheeping and feels lonely

 

[Buckeye Amy]

I wouldn’t try it again. She’ll end up killing it. Can you somehow put the lone chick where it can see the others without them being able to get to it?

 

[PuddleEndChicken]

I wouldn’t try it again. She’ll end up killing it. Can you somehow put the lone chick where it can see the others without them being able to get to it?

OK, before I give up could I try with a different bantam female ? How long before they settle down if they are going to ?

Or with 2 different bantam females would that be better or worse ?

If that doesn't work I'll try a pen next to the others. Thank you.

 

[Anon112]

At this point I'd use the "visible but separated" strategy.

 

[LyleVertigo]

The first chick I had was the only survivor of a 12 egg incubation. I pretty much had to raise her alone in my brooder indoors for 6 weeks. She would get loud sometimes at night (lost a lot of sleep) but I made sure to spend a moment with it 6 times a day and when I had to get up at night. It was rough but at least she has company now.