California - Northern

[ronott1]

I was soooo excited to get my baby chicks today, I was all dressed, makeup on, and ready to go several hours before I needed to be. But apparently they aren't ready(hatched) yet I think I'll just be super depressed for the rest of today. I waited nearly a month for today. Hopefully my babies will be hatched tomorrow...

In the meantime I'll just be sadly staring at the empty brooder in my room!

Somebody needs to tell those chicks to get out of those eggs!

 

[member 142084]

Just a question about raising lone chicks. (Not that I have that problem currently) My impression so far with just 2 BO is that they really do not like to be "alone". Is there something that can be done to comfort the young chicks. Similar to how a ticking clock supposedly comforts young puppies making the transition to being a lone dog. Or is it always best to get them a companion. If you have a broody hen I suppose its not a problem but if not ...

Feather duster

 

[caychris]

I usually find if they have something they can snuggle into. I use a washcloth and pull up one edge so it's tented. They can then snuggle into the open edge and it's easy to throw in the wash (for some reason chicks are NOT housebroken).

I've noticed that my BO do this little dance of trying to snuggle under each other it is kind of comical each one wants to be on the bottom. My delaware's never did this kind of thing could it be a difference between Bator and Broody hatches? I would think the snuggling thing is instinctual but without the mama around they all just huddle up.

The feather duster comments make sense too.

 

[member 142084]

no they are just that way. They are personable birds and i had 1 bator chick hatch it died after 3 days of being lonely. Just before the duck hatched.

 

[PetRock]

Bresse.
The kicker is getting the vacc established before expousure. It is very very hard to do. Because most hens have been exposed so you carry it around with you and most chicken people can't bio securiry dust. Plus people do it later and think it does not matter. When I talked to davis she said getting out in front of it was terrible and it was much more effective in the egg. Now just teach me how to do that heh.

The Speckled Sussex that I lost was a hatchery chick that was vaccinated in the egg. She just fell into that percentage that it didn't work for.

 

[alibra]

I think I'm getting easter egger fever...

 

[Laurieks]

Bielefelders! Does anyone here have them? I'm thinking about buying eggs to hatch...
(Still trying to catch up on the thread...Kim your crate is here by the garden 'shed', come anytime )

 

[PetRock]

I usually find if they have something they can snuggle into. I use a washcloth and pull up one edge so it's tented. They can then snuggle into the open edge and it's easy to throw in the wash (for some reason chicks are NOT housebroken).

I use a micro fleece rag that I tie into a knot. Just wash it with the rags when it gets too much poop on it. I have also purchased stuffed animals at the dollar store to put in the brooder with the chicks. The chicks love it, poop all over it, and then you throw it away!

 

[PetRock]

Feather duster

I tried the feather dusters one time. I bought several at the dollar store, tied them together, and suspended them in the brooder. The chicks seem to love them. We were gone from home for a few hours and came home to one dead chick. It was a big, fluffy one. I pulled the feather dusters out just in case they were giving off some kind of bad fumes. No more chicks died once they were removed. The chick's death might have been totally unrelated to the feather dusters but I'm not willing to try it again. The feathers were dyed and maybe I need to find some natural feather feather dusters not cheap made in China with who knows what is in them feather dusters.

 

[capayvalleychick]

DD found the cable for her camera, the triplets.

Those look a lot like some of mine.

well, fooey. I candled eggs yesterday, and only 3 araucana eggs are developing out of 2 dozen. The rest are all clears.

I'm having a frustrating time with fertility, etc. too.

My son has his way with the wee ones. The ducklings literally flock to him. Happened 2 years ago too.

That is beyond adorable!