Premature chicks

[lyndice]

Do you know who mama chicken is?

She’s an

Australorp​

 

[TOMTE]

She’s an

Australorp​

These are wild hatchlings, as others have said. PLEASE follow @WoDia and @MGG 's advice if you truly want to help these chicks. Being stubborn about it will only kill them. They will freeze or overheat or starve to death if you don't find somebody to care for them, whether that's their parent(s) or a wildlife rehabilitator.

 

[WoDia]

These are wild hatchlings, as others have said. PLEASE follow @WoDia and @MGG 's advice if you truly want to help these chicks. Being stubborn about it will only kill them. They will freeze or overheat or starve to death if you don't find somebody to care for them, whether that's their parent(s) or a wildlife rehabilitator.

They are definitely not. Have you ever seen a chicken chick? I bet you've got a sparrow nest in the eaves or something. They can shove their nests in very small spaces. A chicken chick can not hatch "prematurely" and would never look like that even if it was possible. It's possible the nest fell and an especially nice broody hen decided to try to adopt them. They are no poultry. Please get them to a rehabber ASAP. What state are you in?

They do look like Barn Swallows. I have several pairs nesting in my barn every Spring.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Coming from an avian wildlife rehabilitator — those are not premature chickens. They're not chickens at all. What you're looking at are wild birds, likely nestlings from a nearby nest. It’s a common misconception, especially when young wild birds are featherless or awkward-looking, for people to assume they’re just underdeveloped poultry. But as someone who’s worked hands-on with both domestic chicks and countless wild species, I can tell you there are distinct differences in their anatomy. Misidentifying them can lead to improper care, so it’s important to recognize these aren't baby chickens — they're wildlife in need of species-appropriate support from your local wildlife center.

Edit: There are many species of birds that will lay in other nests, in hopes that bird will care for them. 99% of my 'premature chicken' calls in clinic are just that. Birds laying in chicken nests and the chickens kicking them out.

 

[MGG]

They do look like Barn Swallows. I have several pairs nesting in my barn every Spring.

Hmm. I don't think their beaks are wide enough for swallows and they have too much fuzz. If this was in a barn my guess is house sparrows or starlings.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Hmm. I don't think their beaks are wide enough for swallows and they have too much fuzz. If this was in a barn my guess is house sparrows or starlings.

Agree. And since we dont know the location: they could even be many species of minards, finches, or otherwise.

 

[lyndice]

These are wild hatchlings, as others have said. PLEASE follow @WoDia and @MGG 's advice if you truly want to help these chicks. Being stubborn about it will only kill them. They will freeze or overheat or starve to death if you don't find somebody to care for them, whether that's their parent(s) or a wildlife rehabilitator.

Wanted to let all know that the the SWVA Wildlife Rehabilitation is picking up the hatchlings in the morning. Thank you for all your input. They think by pictures may be wren hatchlings. No clue how they got in my coop! Hopefully all will be well. Thanks to all who replied.

 

[TOMTE]

Wanted to let all know that the the SWVA Wildlife Rehabilitation is picking up the hatchlings in the morning. Thank you for all your input. They think by pictures may be wren hatchlings. No clue how they got in my coop! Hopefully all will be well. Thanks to all who replied.

Yay! I'm so glad! Good luck, little guys!

A lot of wrens are silly buggers who will nest just about anywhere. Could be you just never noticed it because it was so well hidden in plain sight!

 

[MGG]

Wanted to let all know that the the SWVA Wildlife Rehabilitation is picking up the hatchlings in the morning. Thank you for all your input. They think by pictures may be wren hatchlings. No clue how they got in my coop! Hopefully all will be well. Thanks to all who replied.

That's good. I'm worried though, they likely will starve by morning. They need to eat all the time at that age, they have a very fast metabolism and would be being fed every 15-20 minutes. I'd try calling them back and see what you can feed them. Either that or I'd try to get them there tonight.

 

[lyndice]

I asked if I could give them water and they said nothing at all. They should be inactive at night and they would probably be here in am. I have a cardiac catheterization in am so they said they’d be here in am and my son will give them to them. They said they’d should be ok.