5th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2014 Hatch-A-Long

[Myfourladies]

That's just it, though...all of them have feathers that are different lengths! I know it's hard to see in the photos...but trust me, every single chick but the 2 that don't have wing feathers yet, have two rows of feathers that are different lengths. If it's true about the speed of the growth being only for bantam breeds, then that means so far I have 4 pullets.

I am enjoying my chicks, but I am a little worried about it, too. My boys each want to pick out one they can call their own. Problem is, I can't let them pick boys. I dunno if you read all of my posts about this hatch...(which is hard to do, I'm sure), but this batch of eggs was a "test run" because I wouldn't be completely devastated if I lost them. They were fertilized by my aggressive roo, Zeus. He went to freezer camp. Anyway, any cockerels that were born will be going to join their daddy when they reach 17 weeks of age, because I will not keep any cockerels fathered by an aggressive roo, nor will I give them to someone knowing that is a very big possibility. The pullets I can keep...even with aggressive genes, they will not be anywhere close to being like an aggressive roo...and I will not be hatching any of their eggs.
I will have quite a fight on my hands if I allow either of my boys to pick a chick that's a male. They both already have their favorites, and I've told them not to pick any out yet till I'm certain which are boys and which are girls.

This is why I'm trying to figure it out

I feel ya. I 4 little girls that all wanted a chick.... now we have ONE.

The first two rows of feathers are the ones used for sexing..... it is hard to tell especially if you haven't ever done it before. Split the chicks in half and let each boy claim half then when it is easier to tell, around 3 to 4 weeks let them make a final decision. LOL

 

[ronott1]

so one of my chicks isnt eating or drinking... it's standing away from the others with its wings and head drooping

I cleaned its butt cuz there was a bit of poo stuck but I saw it poop. we gave it some water with a syringe to make sure it's hydrated but it's just not active like the other chicks.

We should all have a bottle of Baby Vitamins without iron for the chicks.

Give the slow one a Drop on the beak. Feed it a scrambled egg and pick up some Chick Grit for them.

It really does help the get their digestion going.

Best!

 

[chickengirl1193]

We should all have a bottle of Baby Vitamins without iron for the chicks.

Give the slow one a Drop on the beak. Feed it a scrambled egg and pick up some Chick Grit for them.

It really does help the get their digestion going.

Best!

are the save a chick vitamins good enough? I gavehim that. and I do have chick grit sprinkled on the ground for them. ill give them some egg. thanks !

 

[bantambury]

@ronott1

I posted a while back yesterday night my final count....along with pictures....jus in case you were collecting them now?

thanks so much for all your hard work and putting up with all of us crazy peeps! haha

~Bantambury

 

[ronott1]

are the save a chick vitamins good enough? I gavehim that. and I do have chick grit sprinkled on the ground for them. ill give them some egg. thanks !

The save a chick are ok but Poly Vi sol without iron really perks them up quickly.

I hope the chick gets better soon!

 

[chickengirl1193]

The save a chick are ok but Poly Vi sol without iron really perks them up quickly.

I hope the chick gets better soon!

okay and that's something you can get at the super market? It's baby vitamins? he's doing okay! walking around and pecking things just not as active as the other chicks. my mom hand raises cockateils and she felt the chicks crop which is full so its probably eating, or did eat at some point.

 

[Wunjo]

I still have 3 internal pips. If they hatch they hatch. I'm just going to leave them there.

36 set
31 put in lockdown
19 hatched
9 quitters
3 Internal pips

Thanks Ron for all the help. It seems as though if you wasn't sleeping you was here replying and helping everyone out. You have done a great job.

 

[Myfourladies]

okay and that's something you can get at the super market? It's baby vitamins? he's doing okay! walking around and pecking things just not as active as the other chicks. my mom hand raises cockateils and she felt the chicks crop which is full so its probably eating, or did eat at some point.

You can get them at Walmart in the human vitamin section or in the baby section. I gave them to my daughter when she was a baby. LOL

 

[MontanaDolphin]

Real quick question...

The baby I had to help, and that had it's umbilical still attached...should I leave it in the incubator until the piece that is there falls off? It's a round dried up ball, but still attached to its bum. I was worried the other chicks might peck at it, pulling it off and making it bleed? Baby is active and getting around just fine, and peeping really loudly...I hate that its all alone, but don't want to put it with its siblings too early, causing harm to come to it.

 

[MontanaDolphin]

I still have 3 internal pips. If they hatch they hatch. I'm just going to leave them there.

36 set
31 put in lockdown
19 hatched
9 quitters
3 Internal pips

Congrats!!!!

Thanks Ron for all the help. It seems as though if you wasn't sleeping you was here replying and helping everyone out. You have done a great job.

Amen to that! I hope Ron's getting paid for all his time! LOL