Help! Lonely chick won't stop chirping!

[Juliesayshello]

I incubated my first set of eggs and only one egg survived to hatch. Now I have a beautiful little silkie baby chick... I'm ecstatic! But.... he(or she) will not quit chirping and he's driving me nuts! I understand that he's lonely, but I've tried everything to help. I have two hens laying on eggs right now.. is it possible that either one would take to him? I definitely don't want anything to happen to him. Is that something I should try? And if so, how would I go about that? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[br0nc0]

I personally wouldn't put it under a broody hen... could it be too cold for the little fella?

 

[allykay219]

If that's your only choice I would bring a hen in and watch it with the chick for awhile and see how she does, if she pecks at it try a diff hen. I have one silkie hen that loves going broody but doesn't like chicks. But there has been a few times I've brought an older silkie chick in and put it in the brooder with new chicks to show them how to eat and cuddle them. I haven't done it with a hen tho. Maybe if you do short visits it will help

 

[N F C]

I've read of people putting a small stuffed animal and unbreakable mirror in with lonely chicks and that seems to comfort them. Haven't had an occasion to try it myself, but if your hens don't take to him, might be worth the try.

Good luck!

 

[azygous]

You're dealing with a primal instinct that a baby chick has that demands it locate its flock, hence the frantic chirping.

You can fight it out and try to bribe and fool the chick with baubles and distractions, but it's still going to be trying to find its flock all the same.

If you want peace of mind and peace and quiet, rig up a safe pen with a heating pad cave in close proximity to the other chickens. The chick will be consoled by seeing it's in the midst of its flock, it will have a comforting heat source that mimics a broody hen, and the chick will develop naturally as if it were being raised by a broody since the flock will communicate with the chick and socialize it into the flock.

Or you can fight nature, stick it under a heat lamp in the house and listen to it chirp for its flock for the next four weeks.

 

[3riverschick]

I personally wouldn't put it under a broody hen... could it be too cold for the little fella?

That's what I am thinking. A loud incessant chirping is consistent with a draft. Check to make sure there is not a drafty area in the brooder.
Best,
Karen

 

[chickens really]

A mirror will help with loneliness...also it sounds a bit cold...has it been eating and drinking? Check its butt for pasty butt....


Best of luck....

Cheers!

 

[lazy gardener]

How many eggs are your hens brooding and how long have they been setting? Are both sets due to hatch at the same time? I think that I'd remove the eggs from the oldest clutch. Then try to foster the lone chick to that hen. Those eggs can then be finished off in the bator, or given to the other hen if both clutches are similar in age and if she can cover them. IMO, you also need to trouble shoot your bator to figure out why the hatch was not successful. Were they all fertile? Did you calibrate your thermometers and your hygrometer? What temp did you run bator at through the entire hatch? Any hot/cold spots? Did you adjust to accommodate for those? Any temp spikes? Even in forced air bators, there can be noticeable fluctuation of temp throughout the box.

 

[snow5164]

My first hatch I ended up with two !!better then one but still not great, I saw a ad online from a young man who had one screaming chick ( his incubator got turned off while he was in school

)
so I gave him my two.Now they are a happy family of three ..... just an idea

 

[aart]

How many eggs are your hens brooding and how long have they been setting? Are both sets due to hatch at the same time? I think that I'd remove the eggs from the oldest clutch. Then try to foster the lone chick to that hen. Those eggs can then be finished off in the bator, or given to the other hen if both clutches are similar in age and if she can cover them. IMO, you also need to trouble shoot your bator to figure out why the hatch was not successful. Were they all fertile? Did you calibrate your thermometers and your hygrometer? What temp did you run bator at through the entire hatch? Any hot/cold spots? Did you adjust to accommodate for those? Any temp spikes? Even in forced air bators, there can be noticeable fluctuation of temp throughout the box.

Great suggestions!