8 hours in the car later, my Araucana chicks are here!

[mlheran]

They are so cute!!

Totally worth the search.

What is the mark on some of their heads? (And what is used to make it?)

 

[Critter Crazy]

awwww....so cute!! Glad they are all doing good.

 

[iopele]

Nancy told me in our emails that when she mailed out my dozen babies, she'd make sure there were at least 3 obviously tufted chicks in the batch. She said she put a dab of paint on their heads to mark the tufted ones. There were actually 5 marked ones because she included some extra chicks in the box, but only 3 made it. (She also removed any obviously tailed chicks, so all of mine are rumpless. I can't say enough good things about Nancy!)

However, I've noticed that 2 or 3 others who aren't marked also have the ear tufts! The tufts are supposed to be noticable right at hatch, but they become more so as they grow. (These guys are now 5 days old, in case I didn't say earlier--they hatched on Monday the 14th.)

This orange-marked chick has the biggest tuft of the group, and also one of the coolest faces I've ever seen on a chicken:

If its facial coloring stays the same when his feathers come in, it'll probably get named Domino. Or if it's a rooster, it might become Fabio--that's what we've decided to name the top roo. *giggle*

This one isn't marked, but has a small white ear tuft:

There's also a white one with a medium sized ear tuft, but it was not cooperating with Photo Time. Silly shy chick! I'll get you later, chickie, and your little tuft too...

And this is just too cute not to share--sleeping propped against the wall!

(that little plastic box in the picture is the sensor for my thermometer)

Now that I've figured out how to post pictures, I'm gonna be dangerous, LOL! You'll get so tired of seeing my babies...

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

When I had some chicks in the house, I put down a double layer of newspaper, then a double layer of paper towels & repeated this 3 or 4 times. Then I could just roll up the soiled paper towels with the layer of newspaper without taking the chicks out. Then I had a fresh layer already under there.

Worked a lot better than trying to move chicks all the time.
After a few days, when they were eating good, I just took all of it out & had them on the shavings.

You might try this method. You could even take the shavings out completely for now, & do more layers of newspaper & paper towels. All those layers will give them a cushioned floor to walk on.


Jean

 

[Freebie]

Sleeping propped against the wall sure is priceless. They are suck cute little darlings.

 

[iopele]

I'll have to try that, Jean. I just didn't think about it, which is funny because I made my brooder with a tray that can slide out so the poopy newspaper can be easily changed and put several layers of paper on the tray. Will have to do that with their cushy box, too!

They're all cuddled up and snoozing now. Must mean it's time for me to go to bed, too, huh?

 

[iopele]

Quote:
How do you know when they're eating well enough to be allowed in the shavings? They're kicking the paper towels aside to scratch in the shavings now so there's shavings on top of the towels, but they still all go and peck in the feeder frequently. I have seen them peck at the shavings but then drop whatever they've picked up right away. Are they ready to be allowed in the shavings?

 

[iopele]

One of my chicks died today and since I don't know what caused it, I took out all the shavings even though they're covered. I've also added an extra waterer and raised the heat lamp to cool it off around them... here's hoping that the death toll doesn't rise any higher! 5 of 15 babies down and I really don't want to lose any more...

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

I usually take mine off the paper towels after about 1 week.
By that time, they have figured out what the food really is & don't try to eat the shavings.
Yours had such a hard trip, that they may need to stay on the paper towels for a few days longer.

Do they have enough space to get away from the heat? They have to have a cooler place to go if they get too warm.

I have forgotten if you added any electrolytes to their water.
You might want to try some.

Are they eating really good?

What does their poop look like?
If it is runny, try crushing up some oatmeal & giving it to them. If you cook it, you will have to remove it within about an hour. It will sour.
I have just put it in their feeder dry. Oatmeal helps with upset stomachs.

You might try giving them some sand to peck at. I remember you said some of them had pasty butts, & that is usually caused from stress. When ever I have any that get pasty butts, I start with chick grit or sand. I either put it in one end of the feeder, or in a jar lid.
I know that you don't have to give them grit with certain starter feeds, but I try to give sand to them anyway. If they need it, they eat it, & if they don't, they leave it alone. It won't hurt them in any way.

I hope I've given you some suggestions that help.

Jean

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Oh!! Soooo cute! I love chickens that aren't the norm. Are you going to be breeding them, or just pets? True Araucanas are so hard to come by, you're lucky! Good luck with the chickies!