lonely chick and molting mum

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I have a 4 week old maran chick with mum (a brahma) in a coop and run seperate from my other hens. Unfortunately out of the 6 hatching eggs only one turned out to be fertile. In a few weeks time I would like to put my brahma back in with the rest of the hens where she can start laying again, the coop she is in now although 4 feet square has a small nest box and she is a big lady! My worry is would the chick suffer if it was then left on it's own, or would I be better getting a little friend for it at the same time as putting the brahma back with the others?
Also my brahma has gone into molt with looking after chick. At the moment she is eating chick crumbs and layers pellets, any grubs she digs up she gives to chick. I would like to give her a boost, but if I give her anything the chick would get it too. Is there anything that is ok for the chick as well?
Thanks,
Elaine.

 

[Davidd]

Hi, i would try to get at least another one to keep it company when you take mum away- they are sociable birds and dont like being on their own- as for feed- you can try a little growers pellets- higher in protein and better for the chick and a boost for mum ( as she is not laying, it doesn't matter about the ACS)
regards, David

 

[kelloggs]

My brahmas have all started to moult a little when broody this year, that and the fact the chicks keep nesting on their backs makes them look a bit worn. I give my day olds macrovit (liquid vitamin preparation) to give them a good start and does the mum good as well but once out and about again she will look as good as ever.

With your single little one I had the same problem. I only had the one hatch and not wanting her to be on her own, I left her in with her mum until 10 weeks then introduced mum and chick to some of my older ones, which meant having to put them onto growers as well(no eggs) and only now am given her layers, 16 weeks a little to soon for a Brahma but cannot keep the rest on it any longer.
But to be honest she does miss ones of her own age and she sits next to the runs with the younger ones in and has managed to sneek in with them when the doors open so if you can get a chick around the same age I think
it would make thing alot easier and then they can stay together and be introduced together when older.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for advice,
Good excuse to get some more chicks!
I would like a couple more brahmas, I have read somewhere that the males are not as noisy as in other breeds,does anyone know whether this is true?
Thanks,
Elaine.

 

[kelloggs]

Most of my brahma boys have a very low crow so it doesn't sound as loud as the high pitched crows of some breeds but then I would say that , being a brahma addict.

 

[victorias poultry]

I don;t think I have heard my Brahma boys crow, my polish cockerel on the other hand is another matter altogether, I am sure he has a megaphone stashed in the coop somewhere each time he crows!!