One of my hens died today and has left behind one chick. As soon as I realised she was sick I put her into a separate cage with her partner and chick, as it only seemed like a minor illness at the time and her partner had been feeding the chick anyway.

 

She died this afternoon and left Wonka and their chick behind. Wonka had been the one feeding both of them for the past day as she hadn't entered the nesting box for the past day. He seems to have managed raising the chick mostly on his own so far (she was never a great mother) but I don't know if he will continue to raise the chick on his own. The chick is eight days old and appears to be developing normally.

 

Has anyone else had this happen before while the chick is so young? Will Wonka be capable of raising the chick on his own?

 

I have no problem hand raising the chick, but I think it is always better for them in the long run if they are raised naturally. If it is best that we hand raise the chick please tell me.

 

I will be checking often to make sure the chick is being fed, but if it isn't I will hand-raise it. If it is being fed properly should I just leave the rearing to Wonka?

One of my hens died today and has left behind one chick. As soon as I realised she was sick I put her into a separate cage with her partner and chick, as it only seemed like a minor illness at the time and her partner had been feeding the chick anyway.

 

She died this afternoon and left Wonka and their chick behind. Wonka had been the one feeding both of them for the past day as she hadn't entered the nesting box for the past day. He seems to have managed raising the chick mostly on his own so far (she was never a great mother) but I don't know if he will continue to raise the chick on his own. The chick is eight days old and appears to be developing normally.

 

Has anyone else had this happen before while the chick is so young? Will Wonka be capable of raising the chick on his own?

 

I have no problem hand raising the chick, but I think it is always better for them in the long run if they are raised naturally. If it is best that we hand raise the chick please tell me.

 

I will be checking often to make sure the chick is being fed, but if it isn't I will hand-raise it. If it is being fed properly should I just leave the rearing to Wonka?

 

 

he should be fine on his own

i havent had one die but i had one excape a hen left the dad with seven chicks from one two weeks down to few days old he should be fine just keep up the food the veggies water especially freash and clean as per normal just whatch he feeds himself as well as chick mabe get some millit treats for him

and place in as well as seed

feed him bread also as he will eat that himself

Thank you so much, he appears to be doing fine so far and has been feeding the chick well over the past few hours, so I think you're right and he should be fine

Has anyone else had this happen before while the chick is so young? Will Wonka be capable of raising the chick on his own?

 

I have no problem hand raising the chick, but I think it is always better for them in the long run if they are raised naturally. If it is best that we hand raise the chick please tell me.

 

I will be checking often to make sure the chick is being fed, but if it isn't I will hand-raise it. If it is being fed properly should I just leave the rearing to Wonka?

 

8 days is very young but I think you are doing the right thing by closely monitoring it and if Dad is doing the right thing then all is good.

8 days is young for a dad to be taking over. Good that he is feeding, but is he also keeping the baby warm at night ? No other nestboxes to foster the baby to ?

wonder what mum died of?

8 days is young for a dad to be taking over. Good that he is feeding, but is he also keeping the baby warm at night ? No other nestboxes to foster the baby to ?

 

very good point kaz i keep forgeting my cocks are abnormal and like to keep chicks warm in fact they do most the careing

my pet types anyway

He seems to be doing fine at both feeding and keeping warm. I guess he learned how to take care of chicks from his mum raising him in the bottom corner of the cage.

 

Anyway, the chick seems to be fine and fed and warm each time I check and Wonka seems to spend most of his time in the nesting box when he's not eating.

thats wonderful news really great

thats so good youve done well

He seems to be doing fine at both feeding and keeping warm. I guess he learned how to take care of chicks from his mum raising him in the bottom corner of the cage.

 

Anyway, the chick seems to be fine and fed and warm each time I check and Wonka seems to spend most of his time in the nesting box when he's not eating.

I'd put a couple of millet sprays in the nest box with him so he can snack whenever he gets the munchies

I was just wondering: can the chick get all the nutrients and minerals etc. it needs from it's dad or should I be giving Wonka supplements so that the get passed onto the chick? I've never had this situation before but I don't know if cocks provide the same sort of food as hens and I would hate to see the chick undernourished.

 

I would foster it out but none of our other nests have chicks the same age, in fact we only have two left in the last box with chicks in it and they're about to come out.

I was just wondering: can the chick get all the nutrients and minerals etc. it needs from it's dad or should I be giving Wonka supplements so that the get passed onto the chick? I've never had this situation before but I don't know if cocks provide the same sort of food as hens and I would hate to see the chick undernourished.

 

I would foster it out but none of our other nests have chicks the same age, in fact we only have two left in the last box with chicks in it and they're about to come out.

This is the difficulty with the chick being so young although I do believe crop milk is vital for the first week and important for the second. I don't know what you can do except cross your fingers. Maybe Kaz or someone else can be of more help. Best of Luck!