Hatching with 2 broodies

[ShelbyCoral]

GUYS I HAVE AN EMERGENCY! My duccle that we got in march (3 weeks old when we got her) has a swollen under belly and is trying to push out something. I tried helping her and I zsaw a red ball come out and it was all bloody! She does have allot of liquid in her and its clear and white. She does have some poop but WHAT DO i DO!?

 

[Farmer Viola]

GUYS I HAVE AN EMERGENCY! My duccle that we got in march (3 weeks old when we got her) has a swollen under belly and is trying to push out something. I tried helping her and I zsaw a red ball come out and it was all bloody! She does have allot of liquid in her and its clear and white. She does have some poop but WHAT DO i DO!?

it sounds like she has a vent prolapse, and/or egg bound. look up egg bound and see if it fits? it is possible she WAS eggbound and passed the egg already, but if her poop is clear liquid and not solid then the poop is being blocked by an egg...?

if she is egg bound (from the pushing and distended belly) you can confirm by feeling for an egg. if you have a glove or a ziplock baggie you can insert a finger into her and feel for the egg. it should be straight in 2-3" no further. you can also use olive oil or cod liver oil excessively on the area to help lubricate it and that might also help get the egg out. let us know if you can confirm an egg in there..

preparation H is the best thing to use on the vent prolapse. it reduces inflammation and swelling, and gives her relief.

 

[ItalyChickie]

Well the chicks will be a week old tomorrow and the broodies STILL aren't taking them outside! I think they are playing it extra safe.

The chicks have gone into the covered run a foot or so, I think they want to go out but the mamas aren't approving of that yet. Just as well, everyone seems very happy and healthy and they are growing so fast! They seem to run around super fast the last day or so. I was a bit worried about the constant scratching in the shavings, I sure don't want to chicks to ingest too many tiny particles of wood, but everyone seems fine.

Isn't it amazing how much they grow in the first week? Any updated pics for us?

It sounds like bantam mamas are more cautious, or it might be just a coincidence... Pallina is staying put in the kindergarten area - though they are outside, but probably only because their apartment would have been too small for roaming around, while Chiocciola can't wait to get out in the morning and is roaming all over the place with her chicks, who are no longer afraid of the other flock members and know which ones should be avoided (the Red Stars! I don't know why but those are the only ones that get mean with the babies).

In other news, I confirm that Cenere is indeed considering going broody again. She was in the nest box for 6 hours before she got kicked out by Ombretta, and she is doing the broody puffed up ball impersonation and growl today, at everyone who comes near, including me! (Unless I have treats, preferably eggs or yogurt, in which case I'm allowed to approach.)

So the "no more hatches this year" memo was obviously not read, or not taken into consideration... Wondering if I should ignore it myself, since I also have an opportunity for some free hatching eggs - the naked neck chick turned out to be a mistake on the seller's part, an unmarked egg - he's trying to breed a naked neck Araucana, and that was supposed to go into his bator... anyway, he apologized profusely and offered free eggs for my next order.. I think hubby is going to kick out both Cenere and me if I bring it up though. We already hatched 37 chicks this year!!!! Help? I need a 12-step program, I'm obviously addicted.

 

[ItalyChickie]

GUYS I HAVE AN EMERGENCY! My duccle that we got in march (3 weeks old when we got her) has a swollen under belly and is trying to push out something. I tried helping her and I zsaw a red ball come out and it was all bloody! She does have allot of liquid in her and its clear and white. She does have some poop but WHAT DO i DO!?

So sorry! I have no idea, unfortunately, but hopefully Farmer Viola's advice helps you, or maybe someone on the emergency threads will know more... Keep us posted, fingers crossed for your girl!

 

[Sonya9]

Isn't it amazing how much they grow in the first week? Any updated pics for us?

It sounds like bantam mamas are more cautious, or it might be just a coincidence... Pallina is staying put in the kindergarten area - though they are outside, but probably only because their apartment would have been too small for roaming around, while Chiocciola can't wait to get out in the morning and is roaming all over the place with her chicks, who are no longer afraid of the other flock members and know which ones should be avoided (the Red Stars! I don't know why but those are the only ones that get mean with the babies).

In other news, I confirm that Cenere is indeed considering going broody again. She was in the nest box for 6 hours before she got kicked out by Ombretta, and she is doing the broody puffed up ball impersonation and growl today, at everyone who comes near, including me! (Unless I have treats, preferably eggs or yogurt, in which case I'm allowed to approach.)

So the "no more hatches this year" memo was obviously not read, or not taken into consideration... Wondering if I should ignore it myself, since I also have an opportunity for some free hatching eggs - the naked neck chick turned out to be a mistake on the seller's part, an unmarked egg - he's trying to breed a naked neck Araucana, and that was supposed to go into his bator... anyway, he apologized profusely and offered free eggs for my next order.. I think hubby is going to kick out both Cenere and me if I bring it up though. We already hatched 37 chicks this year!!!! Help? I need a 12-step program, I'm obviously addicted.

Well will the seller swap out an Araucana chick for the mixed breed? Or maybe he doesn't have any that age. You do have a broody so maybe sneak 2 or 3 Araucana eggs under her and claim ignorance if/when hubby notices? He may not you know.

We haven't seen pix of your babies in a couple of days either! Post some, do Pallina's chicks look about the same as these size wise?

And here is a short video, if you want pix you don't have to ask twice! The coop is now a disaster area, the CONSTANT scratching means there is food everywhere, the water dish always has shavings in it, etc... I do have a little food platform that I will start to use (the chicks are just now old enough to jump on top of it).

They have grown so much, their little wings are really developing!

 

[ItalyChickie]

Well will the seller swap out an Araucana chick for the mixed breed? Or maybe he doesn't have any that age. You do have a broody so maybe sneak 2 or 3 Araucana eggs under her and claim ignorance if/when hubby notices? He may not you know.

We haven't seen pix of your babies in a couple of days either! Post some, do Pallina's chicks look about the same as these size wise?

And here is a short video, if you want pix you don't have to ask twice! The coop is now a disaster area, the CONSTANT scratching means there is food everywhere, the water dish always has shavings in it, etc... I do have a little food platform that I will start to use (the chicks are just now old enough to jump on top of it).

They have grown so much, their little wings are really developing!

The seller is too far away for a swap, all the way up in northern Italy, about 6 hours drive - the eggs were shipped, won't work for a week-old chick though.

I'm sure I'll convince hubby if I want to... he loves those chicks as much as I do, just trying (not very successfully) to limit the numbers. Now if I could convince Ombretta to go broody as well, he'd be the first one on board - Ombretta and Cenere co-parented before and he thought those two made the best team ever (I agree). I'm mostly a bit torn myself, since vacation time would coincide with chick arrival, or shortly thereafter.

I always want pics!

And videos! They are adorable and full of energy!!!

Mine seem smaller in size (wings are about the same), but maybe it's the comparison to moms that makes me think that, since Pallina is a bantam Brahma, which is still bigger than most bantams.

Just looked at some pics from yesterday, and I swear they have grown more since then, so I'll go take some new ones. Back in a few!

Edited to add - it's official, Cenere is in the nest box instead of on the roost (it's almost time for them to go to bed over here).

And the pics...

First up, sleepy heads Araucana chicks:








The Araucana and not-really-Araucana chicks' wing growth seems much slower than the bantams (below)





Some bantam close-ups:





And a couple of group shots:

 

[Sonya9]

Mine seem smaller in size (wings are about the same), but maybe it's the comparison to moms that makes me think that, since Pallina is a bantam Brahma, which is still bigger than most bantams.

Just looked at some pics from yesterday, and I swear they have grown more since then, so I'll go take some new ones. Back in a few!

And these OEG bantams are one of the smallest varieties, about the size of pigeons just a bit more full bodied.

I just ran down to the local gas station to pick up some beer for the weekend and I got my hens a treat, 50 crickets (that store also sells live bait for fishing). They go crazy for those! It is also a somewhat fair deal for the crickets, they get set let loose in the covered pen and many do escape into the green field where they promptly hide.

So anyway I thought this was a treat for the grown hens, since the crickets would be too big for the chicks. WRONG! Those chicks gave the hens a run for their money! All of the chicks got in the game and chased crickets around in the covered pen, several of the little ones caught a cricket and fought to keep it all for themselves!

The larger hens are all very good with the chicks (though the Buff Orp. did consider stealing a cricket from one). Now if only the young broody would be as good! She is fine with her own chicks but she is often picking on the others which leads to fights. I sort of hoped she would just give up the idea of being a mother and let Zilla raise all of them, but that isn't happening, and one of the young broody's chicks is very attached to her.

 

[Sonya9]

And a couple of group shots:

I bet they are about the same size. The wings look identical to my chicks, and those wings were barely there a week ago!
Very cute!

 

[16 paws]

And these OEG bantams are one of the smallest varieties, about the size of pigeons just a bit more full bodied.

I just ran down to the local gas station to pick up some beer for the weekend and I got my hens a treat, 50 crickets (that store also sells live bait for fishing). They go crazy for those! It is also a somewhat fair deal for the crickets, they get set let loose in the covered pen and many do escape into the green field where they promptly hide.

So anyway I thought this was a treat for the grown hens, since the crickets would be too big for the chicks. WRONG! Those chicks gave the hens a run for their money! All of the chicks got in the game and chased crickets around in the covered pen, several of the little ones caught a cricket and fought to keep it all for themselves!

The larger hens are all very good with the chicks (though the Buff Orp. did consider stealing a cricket from one). Now if only the young broody would be as good! She is fine with her own chicks but she is often picking on the others which leads to fights. I sort of hoped she would just give up the idea of being a mother and let Zilla raise all of them, but that isn't happening, and one of the young broody's chicks is very attached to her.

Sounds like some cricket chasing crazy fun for everyone. Those little ones surprise you sometimes with their abilities! Go get em chickies.....

 

[16 paws]

The seller is too far away for a swap, all the way up in northern Italy, about 6 hours drive - the eggs were shipped, won't work for a week-old chick though.

I'm sure I'll convince hubby if I want to... he loves those chicks as much as I do, just trying (not very successfully) to limit the numbers. Now if I could convince Ombretta to go broody as well, he'd be the first one on board - Ombretta and Cenere co-parented before and he thought those two made the best team ever (I agree). I'm mostly a bit torn myself, since vacation time would coincide with chick arrival, or shortly thereafter.

I always want pics!

And videos! They are adorable and full of energy!!!

Mine seem smaller in size (wings are about the same), but maybe it's the comparison to moms that makes me think that, since Pallina is a bantam Brahma, which is still bigger than most bantams.

Just looked at some pics from yesterday, and I swear they have grown more since then, so I'll go take some new ones. Back in a few!

Edited to add - it's official, Cenere is in the nest box instead of on the roost (it's almost time for them to go to bed over here).

And the pics...

First up, sleepy heads Araucana chicks:








The Araucana and not-really-Araucana chicks' wing growth seems much slower than the bantams (below)





Some bantam close-ups:





And a couple of group shots:

Love all the pictures, but the second one is my favorite. You get the best shots of them!