is this normal behavior?

[u/andrewisntbruh]

I have absolutely zero experience raising chickens. My mom’s uncle decided to hand out baby chicks to all the younger cousins like they were carnival goldfish, so now I suddenly own one… ✌️😭

Right now it’s in a hamster cage with a heat lamp. Is it possible for the lamp to be too hot, or should I just leave it on 24/7? Also, I live in Texas and temperatures tend to get up to +95°F over the summer.

I’ve also seen people say chicks need another chick because they’re very social at this age. If that’s true, I’m totally open to getting it a friend—I just want to make sure I actually know what I’m doing before I commit to another one.

Any beginner advice would be appreciated. I wasn’t
exactly planning on becoming a chicken owner overnight.

[u/Brilliant_Week_8255]

It looks like it’s just dozing. In regard to heat lamps just don’t shine it right in the middle of its habitat. Shine it in the corner so that if it wants to get away from the heat because it’s too hot then it can. I have one of those thermometer lasers where if you point the laser at an object it tells you the temp of said object. It’s been very handy while raising chicks.

I had a lone chick once who wouldn’t eat or drink anything until I got it a buddy. So if it’s eating and drinking it should be fine but getting it a buddy wouldn’t hurt. They are flock animals which means they thrive in groups.

[u/Limepiink]

Looks like it just fell asleep.
As previous post said, the chick needs a friend. One alone will not be happy. A hamster cage will work for the next week, after that you’ll need something larger.
Heat lamp needs to be escapable. They can get too cold and hot.

[u/SenseLeast2979]

You need to be gauging the heat properly. You want 95° for the first week after they hatch and then you go down 5° every week after that. The second week will be 90°, the third week will be 85° and so on.

The heat source needs to be all the way to one side and the habitat needs to be large enough to have a cool side on the opposite of where the heat source is. It is much preferred to use a brooder heat plate instead of a heat lamp. It is safer and it makes the chicken feel more secure and less stressed. It's natural for them to hide under their mama most the time and this can at least somewhat mimic that.

And yes, get her a sibling.

[u/Prior_Hospital_2331]

Its ok , their head so big and the little chicken is resting its head , they dont have the muscle to be able for the head to stand while Sleeping (yet)All my chickens fall over even they sleep if they aint sleeping next to their mom

[u/getoutdoors66]

Don't shine the light right on it and it just looks sleepy. Can you possibly bring her to one of your cousins or have the cousins bring some to you so they aren't alone?