Will mom take care of chick??

[kstough]

Need advice for a new baby chick! Broody mom hatched 3 eggs over a week ago and she was still sitting on 2 eggs some parts of the day and then walking around with the chicks the other parts of the day. I didn't think the 2 eggs were going to hatch....but one did this morning!

Problem is that mom doesn't want anything to do with it right now and only wants to walk around with the older chicks. I took the newborn and placed it in a container with shavings and a heat lamp.

Will mom end up taking care of the chick? Is there hope? I'm thinking that I can place the baby under her tonight at bedtime and maybe she will start caring for it more in the morning?? Is that a good idea

We go OOT tomorrow for several days and are having some fellow chicken friends take care of our animals.

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[PirateGirl]

I think you have a good plan. Get the chick warm and dry and give it back to mama tonight. Hopefully it will bond to her and follow her and the other chicks around. Once it can walk around it's going to want to be with the other chicks (they have been peeping to each other through the shell) and fingers crossed, all goes just fine!

 

[sourland]

She may or may not accept the chick. Most hens bond with their chicks within the first 24 hours of hatching and then regard all others as 'strangers'. Many will reject other chicks sometimes to the point of killing them. On the other hand occasional hens (think Cochin or Silky) will sometimes accept chicks later than that time period.

 

[kstough]

How old will a chick be for it to get out and walk around with mom and other chicks? Right now it is so young it is uncoordinated and sleepy.