California - Northern

[zooweemama]

thanks -- i'm beginning to think maybe i shouldn't have loaded up first-time broodies with so many eggs? do they tend to manage better with fewer? I'm especially eyeing the dozen i just received, as they're quite large eggs (although broody #5 is also large, my second SPPR Bella)...

I gave 7 Betty to hatch her first time. I didn't know how to candle properly I suspect the only 2 that hatched were fertile honestly. BUT I gave her 10 chicks at nighttime which she totally adopted! Just stuffed right under her. hehe

 

[lawatt]

I would. And Betty had some eggs that hatched like 4-5 days late! I think it's because she really liked to have her 2 daily hour long frolicks (sometimes more lol).

thanks, that's great to know -- i'll be patient with the eggs she's on now.

i've never candled anything & was somewhat nervous about moving the eggs around too much (or dropping them!), so have no idea how any of these eggs are developing. just crossing fingers!

 

[zooweemama]

Question- it's very warm today. I have panting chickens. When my broody gets hot should I put a frozen water bottle in there for her? It's supposed to be in the 90s this weekend. And as we move into May it will keep getting toastier.

 

[zooweemama]

thanks, that's great to know -- i'll be patient with the eggs she's on now.

i've never candled anything & was somewhat nervous about moving the eggs around too much (or dropping them!), so have no idea how any of these eggs are developing. just crossing fingers!

Candling my relieve some of your anxieties. Night time- bright flashlight...if you can see through any of them- they are bad. At this point they should all be pitch black inside with pretty much just the air cell visible. I also noticed by day 20/21 I could see the silhouette of a beak in the air cell. How cute is that??

 

[Happy Chooks]

So, my chicks do NOT like going outside for their daily photoshoots, but I can't work inside because it is too dark in my house. Yesterday it was windy(not cold, just windy), and my little polish chick refused to even stand up. I mean, I put it on the cutting board and it immediately laid down and started shaking? It was only outside for 10 seconds at most.

It's not shaking because it's cold, it's shaking because you picked it up and took it away from it's safety net of the group. Remember, just about EVERYTHING eats chicken. It's just ingrained in their instincts.

Question- it's very warm today. I have panting chickens. When my broody gets hot should I put a frozen water bottle in there for her? It's supposed to be in the 90s this weekend. And as we move into May it will keep getting toastier.

You can try. I once tried frozen milk jugs, and my chickens wouldn't go near them. It's much more effective in my experience to wet the ground in the shade. They will lay on the cool ground with their wings out to cool themselves.

 

[Ali707]

This may sound like a stupid question, but chicks wouldn't o.d. on sand would they? I just switched them to sand tonight and they have done nothing but scratch and peck and peck and peck.....

The papertowels just weren't cutting it any more so I switched. I have never used sand. Only pine ahavings so I am not familiar with the benefits and drawbacks of sand. I just know pine shavings stink pretty quickly.

 

[debs_flock]

They should be fine, it will just build up in their gizzard to grind their food. They'll still recognize food as long as they recognize the source.

 

[gryeyes]

Well, they will eat a lot at first, and it will just go through them. No real worries. They will settle down about it after a while.

I have never had a stinky problem with pine shavings. Ever. I just keep adding more; I don't even need to take any out (unless it got wet by the waterer) until the chicks are done brooding. Then I dump the whole thing into the compost heap.

 

[Ali707]

Well, they will eat a lot at first, and it will just go through them. No real worries. They will settle down about it after a while.

I have never had a stinky problem with pine shavings. Ever. I just keep adding more; I don't even need to take any out (unless it got wet by the waterer) until the chicks are done brooding. Then I dump the whole thing into the compost heap.

They should be fine, it will just build up in their gizzard to grind their food.  They'll still recognize food as long as they recognize the source.

Well mine does tend to get wet from the waterer and they are in my living room. The quail stunk pretty good so I thought I would try sand this time.

My garage is all dark and since I am using the eco glo it didn't seem like a good idea to leave them in the dark 24/7. Even a lamp doesn't seem right without some natural light.

I hope I get my coop built so they can go out as soon as they are big enough .

 

[debs_flock]

I usually keep all my babies indoors for a week, then out they go to a shed/garage brooder. I can't even tell you how many chicks that is at the moment......................WAY too many.