Fluffy_Butt
Songster
Hello Peeps!
I put 5 eggs in the incubator 10 days ago (there was one particular rare eggs from a hen I wanted to breed) and after candling last night, it looks like only 1 is developing (of course not the one I was hoping for, lol). I was wondering what would be the best approach for a solo chick? I'm trying to contact local feed stores and a friend that sometimes hatches, to see if I can get another few chicks for roughly my loner's hatch date, but that's looking like a long shot.
I could put more in the incubator, but at best, the chick would still be alone for the first week of it's life. I can't imagine that's a healthy start, right?
The other potential option I'm considering is a broody hen, because although it's frelling mid-winter in Wisconsin, I have TWO hens that have decided to go broody in the past week. They're not sitting on any eggs, but my cochin (Cutie) is particularly determined. I could give her the egg, which could result in companionship for the chick and motherhood for a hen who I wasn't keen on breeding, but I'm worried about a few things.
a) This is Cutie's first time going broody so, although she's been unwavering for about 5 days now, she could lose interest at anytime?
b) Daytime high temps here have been a bit below freezing (and not likely to get much better any time soon).
Even if Cutie accepts and hatches the egg and cares for the chick, does the chick have a real chance at survival this time of year?
INFO: They're in a large pole building turned coop. There's a semi-insulated shelter in the corner of this building and my wonderful husband put a greenhouse-like wall behind the south-facing garage door, so that helps keep the chill down during the day, but it's still not warm by any means.
What do you guys think is the best route? Thanks in advance for the help!
I put 5 eggs in the incubator 10 days ago (there was one particular rare eggs from a hen I wanted to breed) and after candling last night, it looks like only 1 is developing (of course not the one I was hoping for, lol). I was wondering what would be the best approach for a solo chick? I'm trying to contact local feed stores and a friend that sometimes hatches, to see if I can get another few chicks for roughly my loner's hatch date, but that's looking like a long shot.
I could put more in the incubator, but at best, the chick would still be alone for the first week of it's life. I can't imagine that's a healthy start, right?
The other potential option I'm considering is a broody hen, because although it's frelling mid-winter in Wisconsin, I have TWO hens that have decided to go broody in the past week. They're not sitting on any eggs, but my cochin (Cutie) is particularly determined. I could give her the egg, which could result in companionship for the chick and motherhood for a hen who I wasn't keen on breeding, but I'm worried about a few things.
a) This is Cutie's first time going broody so, although she's been unwavering for about 5 days now, she could lose interest at anytime?
b) Daytime high temps here have been a bit below freezing (and not likely to get much better any time soon).
Even if Cutie accepts and hatches the egg and cares for the chick, does the chick have a real chance at survival this time of year?
INFO: They're in a large pole building turned coop. There's a semi-insulated shelter in the corner of this building and my wonderful husband put a greenhouse-like wall behind the south-facing garage door, so that helps keep the chill down during the day, but it's still not warm by any means.
What do you guys think is the best route? Thanks in advance for the help!
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She was very quick to get the egg under her and hasn't gotten up since, so fingers crossed! Hopefully she wont be too disappointed with only 1 chick, but at least they'll have each other. Thanks for the advice!
Cutie's doing her best, although Banshee kicks her off daily to lay, but at least she's keeping it warm. 
