A word of caution regarding SPONGES and HOVABATORS....

[kodiakchicken]

Cass, so sorry to hear about your chick. Hopefully it was just an eyelid and she's letting it heal before opening. Poor baby.

 

[encmanerabbitry]

Quote:
I also had this happen, I lost 4 little button quail that hatched during the night. Now I keep tall cups in every corner, and that's where I put the extra water or sponges if needed. It helps with humidity, and keeping the wire down. I also found it helps keep the temp steady in my LG.

Sorry to hear about your little one Cass, hopefully it will be okay.

 

[MichiganWoods]

I sure hope so, kodiakchicken.

Here's a picture of "Black Pearl". If it ends up being a rooster, I'll rename it "Blackbeard".... even though his "beard" is white! I felt he/she needed a pirate name other than Squinty or Patchy.

That's about how he/she is all the time. Barely ever opens up the eye lid, but does so on occasion. I have no idea what to think about permanent damage or not.

encmanerabbitry, that's good to know about the cups. I hadn't thought about that. I'd probably use seriously heavy mugs to make sure they stayed weighted down and wouldn't tip if a rambunctious hatchling bowled into it.

 

[CindyS]

If I hatch turkeys in my older model hovabator with fan they actually hit their heads on the fan. I would assume they are also hitting their heads on the element because it is lower than the fan, they dont seem to be harmed. I personally have never used any other method to add humidity in my hovabators except the trays in the bottom. but if one uses air conditioning in the summer and furnace heat in the winter, especially in certain climates and with a forced air model, there may be times when added humidity sponges may be nessesary. I have a few of the old square models, that did not come with the plastic liner, then they added the plastic liner, then they came with the yellow strips to secure the wire mesh to the plastic, then they switched to little wire clips to hold them together, along with that came the higher dome models. And the flat bottom styro with more reservoirs in the newly designed plastic tray. Obviously they are aware of the flaws and problems and are taking steps to improve.

 

[encmanerabbitry]

Quote:
I use thick glass cups, with wide bottoms, like a scotch glass, but a little taller. Don't use anything with a handle.

 

[Bandana]

If that little one were my bird, I think I would try to get some Terramycin ointment in the eye to prevent secondary infection. Also lubes burned flesh a little so there isn't as much irritation and swelling. JMHO. That's a beautiful baby, by the way.

 

[MichiganWoods]

Thank you, Bandana. As my husband updated in our hatching thread, Black Pearl seems to have recovered from the injury and has had his/her eye open all day today (when not snoozing). Where there is any actual vision loss, I don't know. Cosmetically, he/she appears fine now.

 

[panner123]

Quote:
MissPrissy, for shame. you of all people using a
LG. With that pretty home made one. Here I thought I was the only old timer still using LGs.