[bumpkins]

You will all be fed up with me by now,  but this is the first time that I've tried to hatch chicks in an incubator.
I realised that after I candled the eggs, it seemed that there was only one viable one.  I was right and only one has hatched.  The poor little thing is frantically cheeping away in the brooder all by itself.  I've asked around and there is no one with any very young chicks locally to help me out by sparing me one or two.  I'm doing my best but it seems so unhappy!  Any advice?....Please?

[lord flynn]

there was a guy in Birdtrader advertising young chicks


http://www.birdtrader.co.uk/day-old-chicks-for-sale/Poultry/421808


good luck-same thing happened to me a few years ago-I managed to get some form a local country park.

[bumpkins]

Thank you for that!  I've just emailed him.  We live right up in Caithness though so would have to work out a way of keeping them warm for the 1hr 45 min journey.  Thank you again.

[lord flynn]

Smallish box with ventilation in a warm car and they should be fine

[Anke]

You can get the modern variety of "hot water bottle", which is heated in a microwave, it is just a plastic disk (quite heavy, but small enough to fit into the bottom of a crate or similar). If you wrap that in a towel in the bottom of a plastic crate chicks are fine with that for travelling. I have done it like that in the past.

[Anke]

PS.: You could also pair the chick with a duckling if you cannot get another chick locally.

[bumpkins]

Thank you everyone for your advice.  Advertised on Caithness.Org and managed to find some chicks locally.  Our little one now has 3 other chicky friends in the brooder!
Thanks again