kaza46 Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 My little chick has arrived. Its one that i have incubated by itself. Any tips on keeping it happy? I heard that i should feed it boiled egg after the first 24hrs, is that right? Any other advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 No idea just wanted to say congratulations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 It will be a bit lonely on it's own - can you get a day old from somewhere ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaza46 Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 I had tried to get a Day old chick but no luck. I tried through a internet company and they stopped replying to me as i think they thought i was mad doing it. I didn't mean to have it on its own i didn't realise and i should have got some advice before incubating it. It seems happy to be with us and loves following my daughter. It snuggles up under my neck and goes to sleep. This is very sweet but realisically i know it needs to be out side at some point. I have to admit i wouldn't do it again as i feel bad for it not being with the other chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Keep trying to get it a friend or two. Whereabouts are you? I wouldn't worry too much about feeding it egg. Just chick crumb and water and it will be fine. How old is it if it is following your daughter around? I presume it must be older than a day if it is out of the brooder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Give it a soft toy to cuddle up to while you find a real friend- but you do need to find one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 They are plenty of people on practical poultry forum who will sell day olds and probably some listed on here under breeds/chickens for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmastar Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 I also had to get some day old when i hatched as my hatch was very poor , i have 2 frizle peekings atm together and they look lonley with just 2 . keep trying for a friend . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaza46 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 It was born on Friday. The lady that gave me the incubator said she only put her chicks in it at night and that i didn't need a brooder this time of year so i just put it in if its sounds like its getting upset (i figure its cold) It snuggles up with us to keep warm as well. I will look on the breeding forum to see if anyone has any that is close by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaza46 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 I have just registed on Practial Poultry so will look on there once i am on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I'm sorry but you have been totally misinformed, all my chicks whether with mum or ones I hatched snuggle under mum or the electric hen throughout the day or night. I doubt whether your chick will survive without proper heat, it will not feather up and use all it's energy trying to keep warm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaza46 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 I have it in the incubator now and its fine atm. Cross fingers i am doing everything right now. It is only coming out to eat and drink every couple of hours. How many weeks does it need to stay warm all the time? Thanks for your information. I will try to get hold of a brooder as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 It needs a brooder! There is plenty of information available about the raising and hatching of chicks on the internet which all points to chicks needing either a brooder or a broody hen for the first few weeks, irrespective of the time of year. The person who told you otherwise is rather irresponsible, as otherwise, you would have been properly prepared, I'm sure. Don't forget that day old chicks often are sold unsexed, so you may end up with a couple cockerels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaza46 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 She had raised Chicks before so i just believed what she had said. I now feel like a bit of an idiot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Here is what you need - a heat lamp (if you have a local supplier of poultry stuff they should have one), a secure box or old indoor rabbit cage. The lamp needs to be fairly low to start with - once the chick is older it will start to move away from the heat more so you can then raise the lamp, it will need heat for the first 6 weeks. Most importantly it needs a friend or 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 You will then be able to put the food and water in the brooder so it has access to it whenever it wants night and day. The person who has supplied you seems very irresponsible to me. Do as Scarlet says and get a secure box with a heat lamp or electric hen. It will need some ventilation so that is why an indoor rabbit hutch is ideal. You can use easibed for its bedding now it recognises its food. Once it has friends it can go outside in a covered run during the daytime from about 4 weeks if the weather is good, then bring it in with heat at night. From 6 weeks it will be fine to live outside in a coop and run full time. I am about to put my Pekin chicks outside full time once they are 5 weeks and are all feathered up. There is 18 of them so they will keep each other warm. You should be able to get most things next day delivery and I hope it gets some friends soon. I needed some day olds and was fortunate enough to get hold of some cream legbars - these are sexed at day one so I know they are girls. You will be okay introducing it to another chick that is a few days old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaza46 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 My husband has sorted out a brooder for it now and we will put it in tonight or tomorrow. Can someone tell me what breed they think it maybe as i have no idea. It has a feather on each leg and its black (at the mo) Its mother is black but no idea on the Dad as i didn't see the Cockerell. Anyone know??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Could be anything - pekin, silkie, cochin or anything crossed with a feathered leg breed Remember it does need heat with the brooder or no point really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaza46 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 It is heated up to 37 degrees. I have now researched myself and i have seen that that is the temp till its 5days then a degree less after that. We have a little carboard box with its Multicoloured feathered Mummy (daughters arts and craft feathers)and its Teddy (we put them in with it when it started to pip so it is happy with them) and it has gone in and snuggled up and gone to sleep. I think we have one happy chick now I am so thank ful for everyones advice it may have saved my precious little one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Really pleased. It sounds cosy in there - room for me? Stick with the chick hunt. Great that your family are all involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaza46 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 I think my husband is the one that is the most dedicated with the little one sometimes (softy at heart). I was worried it wouldn't settle in there but as soon as it figured the "Mumma " was in the box it was happy and settled straight away. I has the most sweetest personality. I will have to take photo's and post. OMG i love my chickens lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 Yes! We definitely need pics. I'm especially interested in seeing the multicoloured "mum". Good luck with the chick hunt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaza46 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Will speak to someone tomorrow about a friend. She has been away this weekend so haven't been about to, but i hear she has chicks so she may have one for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaza46 Posted July 12, 2011 Author Share Posted July 12, 2011 This (i hope) are some pics of the Multicoloured Mum and little Scarlett. She/he is doing really really well. Been outside for a scratch around with me and it has had quality time with the other chicks and the hen. (seperated by a cat box though i have to say). Please let me know if i have done this wrong and the pics aren't there -http://s1088.photobucket.com/albums/i339/kaza46/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted July 12, 2011 Share Posted July 12, 2011 It looks very cosy and the chick looks healthy and cute. Could be a Pekin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
