[Croftgary]

Hi

One of my hens that I thought had been had by the fox has been found sitting on some eggs, she has an only chick and it doesn't look like the other eggs are going to hatch.
Wondered if anybody in the Fife/Edin/Central/Lothians had any spare day olds that could join the 'only child'

Thanks

[jameslindsay]

What a great and happy ending to a sad story. I would think you should pick up some young ones very easily, fingers crossed. Although, saying that the first time I incubated eggs I only got 1 duckling and she did well on her own and eventually was integrated with the other ducks.

[doganjo]

Hi

One of my hens that I thought had been had by the fox has been found sitting on some eggs, she has an only chick and it doesn't look like the other eggs are going to hatch.
Wondered if anybody in the Fife/Edin/Central/Lothians had any spare day olds that could join the 'only child'

Thanks

Are teh ones your son hatched out at school too old to go in with it?

[Hilarysmum]

Might just be my experience however when I tried the same the hen knew immediately that these were not hers and pecked them quite fiercely.  Eventually they had to be bought up under heat.  The single chick had no problems becoming part of the flock.

[Croftgary]

Thanks, I think the other ones my son hatched would be too big for mum, maybe should just leave mum with one.

Thanks again

[doganjo]

I have three times now had a duckling hatched by a hen - just the one each time.  Never any problems, and all three integrated to rest of ducks and chickens quite easilys.

[Roxy]

One of my bantams hatched two eggs, but unfortunately one chick got taken by a hawk I think.  That left her with one, which I called Norris. Then the bantie (this was her first hatch) seemed to lose interest in Norris, and he was walking round the field on his own. I was lucky to have another bantam with 6 chicks, a few days younger than him. So one night I popped Norris under the bantam with the other chicks, and she either has not noticed a spare one, or does not mind.  He is quite happy, and tags along with the others.  Just he is a good bit taller, and finds it hard to get himself under the hen now.

Had the original bantam not lost interest, I would have left her with one chick.  Sometimes they will take to another hens chick, other times not.