I've hatched a number of chicks this past week. I decided to try using that waffled, rubbery shelf liner (in grass green color) I've seen folks have suggested for the first few days to insure good footing to my new chicks. This is my first attempt trying it, always used paper towels over newspaper which I find a breeze for clean-up throughout the day.
My observations today likely saved one of my peeps for sure.
Uno was a single egg hatch born on 1/4 in the AM. From the get go spunky, drank immediately and pecked at her meal which she didn't really get in her mouth. LOL
I did notice the next day, that she tended to go to the far edges of her container to reach for the tiny pieces of food which had fallen OFF of that green rubbery liner...... and onto the newspaper underneath. Just took notice and went about my business hatching more eggs.
In the meantime 4 new peeps over the next 24 hours joined her in that container and all were happy and fine. She decided to place herself immediately at the top of the pecking order which amazed me in itself. Went from one to another and pecked them a good one to insure her reign as top peep in the brooder.
So this morning when I came in to check the brooder box.... I saw her standing all alone with her eyes 1/2 shut and just "not being herself". I brought her to her water dish and dipped her beak in and she seemed not at all interested. Added suger and did it again a couple of times.
Fortunately the peep box is in my sewing room/office so I get to moniter newborns right there beside me for the first 2 weeks.
She didn't go near her food ....even a nice mash I'd made her special. I tried enticing her and no go. Her crop was empty and I knew she needed to get down to eating or just fade away.
By early evening she is wobbly and hasn't actually gone to lay down all day, just stood there.
So, it just kinda dawned on me like a ton of bricks.....take the green liner away.
Like a chicken who hasn't eaten in a week, she dove into the crumbles like there was no tomorrow!!!! Took a long drink and went back for more. I know now her blood sugar was likely way down and she was too larthargic to eat. I get hypoglycemic myself and understand it very well. :<)
The liner for some reason made it either difficult or strange for her to eat from.
Now a couple of hours later she is sleeping, lying down next to her little friends all content again.
Phew, glad I averted that sad scene.
Just wanted to stick this in peoples heads in case they might encounter the same thing down the road.
I'll still use the liner, just only for day 1. After that it's white paper till they understand how to eat out of their dishes.
happy hatching!
My observations today likely saved one of my peeps for sure.
Uno was a single egg hatch born on 1/4 in the AM. From the get go spunky, drank immediately and pecked at her meal which she didn't really get in her mouth. LOL
I did notice the next day, that she tended to go to the far edges of her container to reach for the tiny pieces of food which had fallen OFF of that green rubbery liner...... and onto the newspaper underneath. Just took notice and went about my business hatching more eggs.
In the meantime 4 new peeps over the next 24 hours joined her in that container and all were happy and fine. She decided to place herself immediately at the top of the pecking order which amazed me in itself. Went from one to another and pecked them a good one to insure her reign as top peep in the brooder.
So this morning when I came in to check the brooder box.... I saw her standing all alone with her eyes 1/2 shut and just "not being herself". I brought her to her water dish and dipped her beak in and she seemed not at all interested. Added suger and did it again a couple of times.
Fortunately the peep box is in my sewing room/office so I get to moniter newborns right there beside me for the first 2 weeks.
She didn't go near her food ....even a nice mash I'd made her special. I tried enticing her and no go. Her crop was empty and I knew she needed to get down to eating or just fade away.
By early evening she is wobbly and hasn't actually gone to lay down all day, just stood there.
So, it just kinda dawned on me like a ton of bricks.....take the green liner away.
Like a chicken who hasn't eaten in a week, she dove into the crumbles like there was no tomorrow!!!! Took a long drink and went back for more. I know now her blood sugar was likely way down and she was too larthargic to eat. I get hypoglycemic myself and understand it very well. :<)
The liner for some reason made it either difficult or strange for her to eat from.
Now a couple of hours later she is sleeping, lying down next to her little friends all content again.
Phew, glad I averted that sad scene.
Just wanted to stick this in peoples heads in case they might encounter the same thing down the road.
I'll still use the liner, just only for day 1. After that it's white paper till they understand how to eat out of their dishes.
happy hatching!
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