2015 Peafowl Hatching Support Group - Eggs and Chicks!

[DylansMom]

@Garden Peas I don't think it was coccidia that killed them - they were acting totally fine. None of the chicken chicks got sick at all. They were in a brooder with pine bedding. I didn't see any blood in the poop or anything like that. They should have been warm enough - the temp was 102 directly under their light. No difficulty hatching, no red bellies, not foot problems. They seemed to be eating and drinking but they were being brooded in my workshop so I wasn't able to keep a very close eye on them. No vitamins in the water.

This time around though they will have their own brooder, I'll go with a higher protein feed just in case, I'll put vitamins in the water, and I'll brood them in my garage so I can keep a close eye on them. I really want these guys to do well if I can hatch them.

Just a thought here, a long time ago I was told not to raise young chicks on wood shavings. If the hen raises them it is fine, because she will teach them not to eat the shavings, but if we incubate and hatch there is no mom to teach them not to eat the shavings. Too many shavings and their crops can become impacted and they will die. I don't know if this is true or an old wives tale, but I never put mine on shavings until they are at least 8 weeks old. They go from towels the first 2 weeks to a wire bottom cage for the next 6 weeks.

 

[DylansMom]

Thank you! If you know the weight of how much you feed of the layer feed and cat food that will be very beneficial. Same with the protein % for the both.

Okay just got done feeding everyone. The layer feed is 16% protein, and the cat food is anywhere from 31% to 40% protein (depends on which kind I buy). I add about 20 lbs. of cat food to 100 lbs. of pellets. I also add shelled peanuts, and sometimes the fruit and nut blend bird feed. That is my bin of dry feed, they get bread and fresh fruits and veggies as well, but this is the bulk of their diet.

 

[Pyxis]

Just a thought here, a long time ago I was told not to raise young chicks on wood shavings. If the hen raises them it is fine, because she will teach them not to eat the shavings, but if we incubate and hatch there is no mom to teach them not to eat the shavings. Too many shavings and their crops can become impacted and they will die. I don't know if this is true or an old wives tale, but I never put mine on shavings until they are at least 8 weeks old. They go from towels the first 2 weeks to a wire bottom cage for the next 6 weeks.

Did you mean peachicks specifically? Hatching chicken chicks I've noticed that if you put them right on pine shavings after hatching they may attempt to eat them, but if instead you put them on paper towels for a few days and then switch to shavings they seem to leave them alone. Maybe I'll try keeping them off shavings for the first few weeks.

 

[DylansMom]

Did you mean peachicks specifically? Hatching chicken chicks I've noticed that if you put them right on pine shavings after hatching they may attempt to eat them, but if instead you put them on paper towels for a few days and then switch to shavings they seem to leave them alone. Maybe I'll try keeping them off shavings for the first few weeks.

I meant Peachicks, I had Peas for 15 years before I was allowed to have chickens. It was definitely the Peas I was told to keep off shavings.

 

[casportpony]

I'm paranoid, so I keep all babies off of shavings. Nothing but towels in my brooders.

-Kathy

 

[Birdrain92]

Okay just got done feeding everyone. The layer feed is 16% protein, and the cat food is anywhere from 31% to 40% protein (depends on which kind I buy). I add about 20 lbs. of cat food to 100 lbs. of pellets. I also add shelled peanuts, and sometimes the fruit and nut blend bird feed. That is my bin of dry feed, they get bread and fresh fruits and veggies as well, but this is the bulk of their diet.

Thank you! Give me some time to do a Pearson square and then get back to you on my reports on the protein % they're getting, unless you already know. I'm just doing an experiment, fun learning thing. Helps keep me sane since I'm done with high school now.

 

[Birdrain92]

The protein they are receiving from the cat and layer pellet mix is 18.5-20% protein.

 

[DylansMom]

The protein they are receiving from the cat and layer pellet mix is 18.5-20% protein.

Thanks for the info. I am not "Mathematical" so I never figured it up. They seem to do quite well on this diet. I collected 8 nice eggs this evening, and my 21 year old hen has laid 4 pretty little eggs in a nest ( they will probably be clears) but she loves to sit, so I will swap them for some fertile ones.

 

[Birdrain92]

Thanks for the info. I am not "Mathematical" so I never figured it up. They seem to do quite well on this diet. I collected 8 nice eggs this evening, and my 21 year old hen has laid 4 pretty little eggs in a nest ( they will probably be clears) but she loves to sit, so I will swap them for some fertile ones.

I'm going to do a video on how to do that stuff now that I have more time on my hands.

 

[Garden Peas]

Did you mean peachicks specifically? Hatching chicken chicks I've noticed that if you put them right on pine shavings after hatching they may attempt to eat them, but if instead you put them on paper towels for a few days and then switch to shavings they seem to leave them alone. Maybe I'll try keeping them off shavings for the first few weeks.

Yes! Peas are smart as adults, but sometimes eat things that aren't good for them as chicks -- I've seen them go after shavings, and I don't use them for new chicks anymore. I would also be cautious with paper towels, as they can be too slippery for good footing, and can result in splayed peachicks. I use actually cloth towels and they do well on those. I have even started putting old washcloths in the hatcher once the chicks hatch out, so they lie around and dry out on the terrycloth fabric...