We have 2 Chinese Silkie Chickens, and their eggs have just hatched, everything is ok except the hen seems to be pushing away the smallest chick. I believe this could be because Silkies will only usually nest 6-8chicks comfortably right? Well she has 12 chicks! I keep taking the little chick back to her and she just keeps pushing him/her away! Should I bring it up myself? If so what are some good websites for info? PLEASE HELP!
2007-03-10 12:49:53 · 5 answers · asked by Audrey 1 in Pets ➔ Birds
Home raising baby chicks is not a hard task. You will need a heat source to keep them warm (about 90* F) and chick starter and a container for water that they can't get wet from. I have used 10 gallon aquariums lined with news paper ( cardboard boxes work too but need to be changed often) and a drop light with food all over the floor of the aquarium and a chick waterer (I prefer the thin lip Quail waterer) from the feed store that will take a glass mayo jar. Clean your " brooder " daily.
2007-03-10 22:30:04 · answer #1 · answered by hotsnakes2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Touching a chick won't affect wether the chicken will care for it. Sometimes they just decide that a chick is not likely to survive, and so in order to give the others the best chance, they push away the weak ones.
Take it in. Get a nice heat light and a box. Make sure there is plenty of room for the chick to move away from the light, or put a small box in sideways and facing sideways to the light so that the chick can get shade.
Put a thermometer in the box, under the heat light.
Make sure that the heat is around ninety degrees for a new hatchling. Go down by five degrees a week by moving the light a little further away.
Make sure food and water is available. And.. if the chick peeps a lot, it's probably too cold. If it is lethargic and lazy, it may be too hot.
It's not hard to raise them away from mom.
2007-03-10 15:37:10 · answer #2 · answered by Theresa A 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ohhh hhhmmm I don't know what to tell you - I wish I did, my father tried chicken raising only once & the momma killed/pushed away many of the chicks & then those chicks that survived canabalized each other --- I hope someone has some good advise - what about the place you bought them from?
2007-03-10 12:54:56 · answer #3 · answered by Bama 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should give it to a local farm or something if you cannot raise it yourself...once you've touched the chick, your smell is on it, and the mother will no longer accept it
2007-03-10 13:15:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here is a very good link that covers everything !!
http://www.avianweb.com/birdnursery.html
2007-03-10 12:54:02 · answer #5 · answered by *KySeN && gAvInS mOmMy* 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋