Found Chicks Alone

[Kuma1]

I guess about 5 day now? I heard some chirping in the very back of the yard near the big Mango tree. It would stop and I waited till it chirped again. I went there and found a newly hatched chick. No mom around. I looked all over. so I picked it up to temprarily look afer it. Mostly black and had white chest. A little white on edge of the eyes. Notsure of sex. Next morning, another one near the same tree. This one was pretty fast and it took several attemps to catch it. This one mostly black and very little white underneath. I was thinking that maybe they fell from the tree where the mom had a nest up in the tree. I looked up all around and nothing. The two are doing okay. They can eat and drink water. Seems like they are eating most of the time, drink water, and poop. High energy then take naps. I think they have bonded to me since if I am not near them, they will chirp loudly. Once I am near then its okay. I still haven't seen a hen with the same size chicks so it is probably not part of the group that comes to visit me for food.

 

[theoldchick]

So glad you are taking care of them.

 

[DobieLover]

It could be their mother and some hatch mates were killed. At this point it's unlikely the mother would take them back.

Do you have a good quality chick starter crumble for them to eat? Do you have a heat source for them when you're not around? A brooder plate would be ideal for them.

 

[Kuma1]

I agree if I see the mother then she won't take her chicks back since its been too long. No sign of the mother hen yet.
As for food, I have been giving them small crumbs from a slice of french bread, english muffin, cooked white rice, shredded wheat bits.
Heat soruce when I am not around lamp and overnight, they are in a small container with wool socks and covered. Having them together is good to keep each other warm. Early morning I pull them out and they go straight to the back of my neck and doze off.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

small crumbs from a slice of french bread, english muffin, cooked white rice, shredded wheat bits.

They need protein and vitamins-more than bread can provide. If you have a hen do you have chicken feed for it you could feed the chicks? Their own heat will not keep them warm since they cannot regulate their own body temperature without feathers. A heat lamp or brooder plate would be better. What are the night time temps where you are?

 

[littlepip]

I guess about 5 day now? I heard some chirping in the very back of the yard near the big Mango tree. It would stop and I waited till it chirped again. I went there and found a newly hatched chick. No mom around. I looked all over. so I picked it up to temprarily look afer it. Mostly black and had white chest. A little white on edge of the eyes. Notsure of sex. Next morning, another one near the same tree. This one was pretty fast and it took several attemps to catch it. This one mostly black and very little white underneath. I was thinking that maybe they fell from the tree where the mom had a nest up in the tree. I looked up all around and nothing. The two are doing okay. They can eat and drink water. Seems like they are eating most of the time, drink water, and poop. High energy then take naps. I think they have bonded to me since if I am not near them, they will chirp loudly. Once I am near then its okay. I still haven't seen a hen with the same size chicks so it is probably not part of the group that comes to visit me for food.

Chicks are rarely left alone with no mother in sight. Unfortunately the hen was probably killed. You’ll need a brooder with a heat lamp or plate since newly hatched chicks require 95° temps that simply huddling can’t provide. Farm stores, sometimes even pet stores, sell chick starter feed that’s small enough for them to eat while still giving them nutrients. I’m glad you’re caring for them!

 

[Kuma1]

They need protein and vitamins-more than bread can provide. If you have a hen do you have chicken feed for it you could feed the chicks? Their own heat will not keep them warm since they cannot regulate their own body temperature without feathers. A heat lamp or brooder plate would be better. What are the night time temps where you are?

I fed the feral chickens with chicken scratch that has various seeds and small bits of corn. Most a little too big for the chicks. The chick have feathers on their wings. Night tems here low 70's.

 

[Kuma1]

Chicks are rarely left alone with no mother in sight. Unfortunately the hen was probably killed. You’ll need a brooder with a heat lamp or plate since newly hatched chicks require 95° temps that simply huddling can’t provide. Farm stores, sometimes even pet stores, sell chick starter feed that’s small enough for them to eat while still giving them nutrients. I’m glad you’re caring for them!

I'll be going into town today so I will look for the starter feed and heat lamp.

 

[Kuma1]

I think I saw the mother hen with about the same size chicks. She came around the other day.Other hens didn't like heror the chciks One hen pecked the chick and the mom came up t o chase it away and got into a little fight. The big rooster came over to break them apart. The hen with the chicks went into the buhes. I know its too late to try to reunite them so I will look after them until they are big enought be on their own.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Ae these feral chckens? Where on this blue planet do you live (in general)?