I had a chick hatch this morning and sadly the hen has not fed it all day. I have given it a diluted handrearing mix to keep him alive and put him back under her hoping she would feed him but she's not concerned about him at all. I even tried putting him under another hen who is expecting her eggs to hatch any day but she didnt feed him either. So now its up to me! I've just put him in my brooder at 35degrees, thats as high as it goes. How often should I feed him (I just know I'm not going to get any sleep tonight!) and is there any thing else I can put in his feed (Passwells Handrearing Mix) to give him a bit of a boost. I would hate to lose him, he is a real battler. Thanks to everyone who replies to my dilemma!! :ausb:

jenene283 Is the hen sitting on the other eggs? If so I would put him back to the hen. Do you have a 4 to 6 day old chick in another clutch? If so you can put it in with the other chick, it's persistant calling can bring on the crop milk from the hen. If not. Just keep feeding the mixture as recomended. Passwell is very good. As the chick gets stronger it will pester the hen to feed.

 

Then your away. If the hen doesn't get the idea... you will be hand rearing the clutch. :ausb:

 

I'd be giving the hen every chance to get going.

jenene283 Is the hen sitting on the other eggs? If so I would put him back to the hen. Do you have a 4 to 6 day old chick in another clutch? If so you can put it in with the other chick, it's persistant calling can bring on the crop milk from the hen. If not. Just keep feeding the mixture as recomended. Passwell is very good. As the chick gets stronger it will pester the hen to feed.

 

Then your away. If the hen doesn't get the idea... you will be hand rearing the clutch. :ausb:

 

I'd be giving the hen every chance to get going.

Yes, shes sitting on another 6 eggs. I hope to God she gets the hang of it soon, or I'm going to be one very busy foster mother!! I left the chick under her most of the day and she hadnt fed it, didnt want it to die, so thats when I removed it (tonight) How long can they survive without being fed?? :ausb:

Where's dad? Shouldn't he be feeding too?

Not too long. I would be feeding it every two hours. As it grows stronger it will be pestering the hen for food. Is this the hen's first clutch?

Not too long. I would be feeding it every two hours. As it grows stronger it will be pestering the hen for food. Is this the hen's first clutch?

No, the lady I bought her from said she has bred before, thats why I was so surprised when she wasnt feeding it. Will see what happens when the next chick hatches, if she feeds it I will put this one back with her. Fingers crossed! :ausb:

Bred before doesn't necessarily mean she was a successful mother. I had a hen that I was told had bred before but had mated with a sibling and produced deformed chicks. Her fist time as a mother here she abandoned the baby. People have a habit of passing on problem birds. Good luck with this chick and I hope it all works out for the best for you. 10 plus for effort. Cheers Karen

2 hour feeds is what I would be doing also. It might be an idea to try the mum again in the morning, she might get the idea. Also you might be able to add him back to the other hen when her eggs hatch if she takes care of them.

2 hour feeds is what I would be doing also. It might be an idea to try the mum again in the morning, she might get the idea. Also you might be able to add him back to the other hen when her eggs hatch if she takes care of them.

Well he has survived the night, I fed him every two hours during the night (its like having a baby all over again). I have just fed him now 6.00am and have put him back under his mum. Will see what happens today - please, please let this work, if not will put him under another hen when her eggs hatch, which should be around next Tuesday. Will keep you posted. :hap:

Best of Luck

Best of Luck

Thanks I think I'm going to need it. I have just checked on him, the parents are fussing over him but still havent fed him. Will leave him there a bit longer - thought I might get him out to feed him if parents dont and put him back under mother to keep him warm.. At least that way he's the right temperature!! :budgiedance:

Try today to feed him every two and a half hours. This will have him calling for food. It's this calling that brings the hen to develop the crop milk. Hope fulling by lunch time she would have gotten the idea and started to feed him.

 

I had one of my hens do this with her first chick from her first clutch. I had to feed him three times before she got the idea... I think I got it easier than you have.

She has gone on to raise 9 healthy chicks ver 2 rounds.

Edited April 28, 200619 yr by daz

Try today to feed him every two and a half hours. This will have him calling for food. It's this calling that brings the hen to develop the crop milk. Hope fulling by lunch time she would have gotten the idea and started to feed him.

 

I had one of my hens do this with her first chick from her first clutch. I had to feed him three times before she got the idea... I think I got it easier than you have.

She has gone on to raise 9 healthy chicks ver 2 rounds.

 

Will do that, thanks.I love this website - there are so many helpful and caring people on it!! Dont know what I would have done without you all! Will keep you posted........ :budgiedance:

Went out for the morning and found he still hasnt been fed, he is now 24 hours old, so whether the parents will figure out what to do, I have no idea. There are another 6 eggs under the hen so I hope they learn pretty fast!! I feed him and put him back under the hen for warmth of a day and in my brooder of a night. He's still hanging in there, so there's hope for him yet....