One of my 2 day old silkie chicks looks not right this morning. It was in a corner of the box by itself; with one eye shut and not cheeping (although its beak was opening and closing). We have washed its eye which is now open and I need to know what else I can do for it.
I bought 4 duckings at an auction yesterday and put them in a dog crate - this morning there was only one left. I have a horrible feeling they squeezed through the bars and then got eaten by our dogs. Very upsetting. So beware if you are first time ducklings owners like us - they can squeeze...
I am not sure what to do. I have 2 eggs which look full with good air sacs - one was definitely cheeping and rocking on Sunday but nothing yet. No cheeping or rocking that I have seen. I am not 100% which day it is but I am thinking Day 22. I had one hatch Day 20 (assuming today is 22); one...
This morning the humidity had dropped to around 49% as opposed to the 68% I've kept it at since day 18. One chick externally pipped this morning but there has been no progress since. None of the others appear top have pipped. What should I do? The pipped eggs rocks sometimes but I can't hear...
Shall I lock them down assuming I set them on the 15th or the 16th? Is it better to lock down a day early or a day late? I am FAIRLY certain it was a Sunday but there is enough doubt there to make me ask what to do to do the right thing :(
Please help.
A few moments ago we found our hybrid cockerel pecking our Buff Orpington who was laying on the floor. "Borp" was bleeding and already dead. It was the only one of the three we hatched that hadn't started crowing so we are unsure as to whether it was a hen or cockerel. The dead Borp had a...
We have just cooked and eaten our first cockerel. This may sound like a REALLY stupid question but whilst the breast tasted liek chicken as I know it, the brown meat smelt and tasted "strange" - maybe gamey, but then I eat game and generally like it. I am not sure if I am over thinking eating...
We have noticed some raised scales on our roo's legs, I can't see any mites and the rest of the flock appear ok. Is this a normal moult or mites? I have scrubbed his legs with iodine and then veg oil just in case.
I have a mixed brood of 4 and 3 week old chicks who go outside regularly in a small run, the rest of the time they are in our utility room. The rest of the ex battery flock and our resident rooster free range around them and don't seem bothered by their presence; would it be ok to put them out...
We just opened it to see if we could help it out but it was already dead. It was perfectly formed and still had a yolk sac slightly larger than it's head attached. There was fluid in the sac. We have had 3 hatch out of a batch of 5. We're opening the other one up too now as it is probably...
What do I do? Can I candle them? I have read about a "water test" but what is it? I don't want them to explode or do anything horrible but I can't bear the thought of killing chicks who might have a chance. Advice please!!!!
Hi there, 3 of my 5 orpington eggs have hatched and are in the brooder but there is no sign of the other 2 even pipping. How long do I wait for them? I have had to open the incubator briefly to take the hatched chicks out but humidity is still at a steadyish 65%. Is there anything I should be...
The last of my batch hatched about 8 hours ago and this morning it still looks damp (although its 'crusty dry') and its not on it's feet as much. Should I keep it with its hatch mates or put it back in the incubator?