Hopeful Hatch Grow-along

[GreenJay]

She has a mix of silent peeps and loud ones. I did see her stretch her back legs, and she is scratching at her nose which isn’t something I’ve seen her do prior, just waddle around slowly following her siblings and teetering around. I will try another mixture when I get back from taking my horses to the farrier. I’m just so frightened that she may aspirate it, even with careful administration. She just sits in my hand silently peeping. We will see, I’ll continue to do what I can for her. I made a really watery mixture with some green tea and electrolytes mixed with their food on a plate I’m hoping she will attempt to peck at that while I’m gone.

How's your Australorp doing today?

 

[tviss711]

How's your Australorp doing today?

She was alive this morning, seems weak though. but, every morning I prepare myself to find her gone and she is pushing on. I added 1/2 tsp of sugar to her water, along with some electrolytes, vitamins and probiotics. My husband caught her drinking on her own last night, so I’m hoping the sugar will help her out a little. We’ve still not seen her eat, so I figure if I offer some energy in her water it may keep her going long enough to realize she’s hungry.

 

[GreenJay]

She was alive this morning, seems weak though. but, every morning I prepare myself to find her gone and she is pushing on. I added 1/2 tsp of sugar to her water, along with some electrolytes, vitamins and probiotics. My husband caught her drinking on her own last night, so I’m hoping the sugar will help her out a little. We’ve still not seen her eat, so I figure if I offer some energy in her water it may keep her going long enough to realize she’s hungry.

Have you tried offering her wet mash? Or crumbled up hard boiled egg yolk?

(either one, take her aside and offer it separately from the others so she doesn't have competition for the goodies )

 

[tviss711]

Have you tried offering her wet mash? Or crumbled up hard boiled egg yolk?

(either one, take her aside and offer it separately from the others so she doesn't have competition for the goodies )

Yeah, I actually made her a yolk slurry (just liquid yolk, mixed with weak green tea, and a small amount of electrolyte powder). She won't peck at anything, so I put it in a syringe and offered her a drop at a time on the outside of her beak. She would shake most of it off, but she did consume some of it. I did that twice for her yesterday. We've had very wet soupy mash available on a plate along with the dry crumble which I feel is too big for her. But we put the plate next to her under the brooder plate. She just doesn't seem to have the instinct to peck at things or eat. I wonder how to inspire her to do that. I've tried "pecking" with my finger to show her how to do that, she watches her siblings pecking which I had hoped would encourage her to do the same. She just stands there and chirps. If she is still alive when I get home, I will hard boil and egg and crumble up the yolk for her and see if that is enticing enough for her to peck at it.

 

[tviss711]

Well, we lost our little Australorp this afternoon. She sure did give it a good try. Hard to watch them struggle like that, but at least she was kept warm and safe for her final days. I'm sad, but I am glad she is no longer suffering.

 

[GreenJay]

Well, we lost our little Australorp this afternoon. She sure did give it a good try. Hard to watch them struggle like that, but at least she was kept warm and safe for her final days. I'm sad, but I am glad she is no longer suffering.

I'm so sorry!

 

[tviss711]

On a more positive note!

I am attempting to bond with the new set of babies, which has not proven as easy as the ones I hatched myself. To be fair, hands have probably been scary things so far for these babies in their short life, being taken from the incubator, poked with a needle (they came vaccinated for Mareks) shoved in a box, taken out of a box, shoved back in another box, and finally ended up with me lol.

I think we had a breakthrough tonight! They scatter and scream bloody murder anytime we approach the brooder. BUT…

Tonight, I put some warm mash in my hand and put it in there and just waited. Within 10 minutes, they were all eating out of my hand and climbing all over it while I talked to them. Then, my Ancona, who has proven to be very feisty, actually jumped up on my shoulder twice! I think if I faithfully do this nightly ritual, they will begin to have more positive associations with me/hands/being handled. I’m also working on names for them. I’m thinking of calling the Ancona “Dakin”, after the female protagonist of my favorite childhood book The Farthest Away Mountain, but I’m afraid people will assume I’m saying “Bacon” when I refer to her lol. I’m also thinking the name “Cricket” would suit her, as she is the one that hops around the most. She is often perched on the water tower, and jumped up onto my shoulder twice. The others, I’m still trying to decide what to call them! I’ve never felt so stuck with naming before. I just can’t decide on names that “feel” right.

The original 6 babies have all moved outside, which was a bittersweet milestone! They are becoming so beautiful. Colonel Potter (Charles) has absolutely stolen my whole heart. He comes running up to me whenever I approach their coop, and climbs into my hand for a “field trip”. Today I put him out on the grass to hang out with the big girls while they were foraging. He was watchful and kept his eye on a crow overhead, then hopped right along trying to follow the older hens around. It was so sweet. He is so mild mannered and precious to me, when I hold him and gently scratch his head he just closes his eyes and melts into my hand. I hope his temperament doesn’t change too much after chicken puberty, I just adore him.
Here’s a picture of the teenagers outside, enjoying their new coop and run, which has a LOT more space than the brooder they were in. I think in a week or so, we can let them out to mingle with the older girls. The older hens had a lot to say on day 1, but now don’t really pay any attention to them.

Winchester will be going to his new home on the 23rd of this month, which I am so pleased about (but sad), as the home he is going to seems like a chicken playground! And he will have 6 hens to look after. Here’s a couple updated pictures of him.

Also. I got another chick, and decided to name her Beans. She is a Speckled Sussex that a friend got for me since I lost my baby girl Pepper. I don’t know why I named her Beans, but it just happened on the car ride home and felt right. She is my little beanie weenie and has no idea that she’s quite a lot smaller than her older sisters. It doesn’t slow her down any and they certainly don’t pick on her. I love her. She seems very brave. Here she is with a flower on her head:

Sorry for the long post, I will share some more pictures this week of the new pullets! Thanks for following along with me!

 

[Cheekychook12]

On a more positive note!

I am attempting to bond with the new set of babies, which has not proven as easy as the ones I hatched myself. To be fair, hands have probably been scary things so far for these babies in their short life, being taken from the incubator, poked with a needle (they came vaccinated for Mareks) shoved in a box, taken out of a box, shoved back in another box, and finally ended up with me lol.

I think we had a breakthrough tonight! They scatter and scream bloody murder anytime we approach the brooder. BUT…

Tonight, I put some warm mash in my hand and put it in there and just waited. Within 10 minutes, they were all eating out of my hand and climbing all over it while I talked to them. Then, my Ancona, who has proven to be very feisty, actually jumped up on my shoulder twice! I think if I faithfully do this nightly ritual, they will begin to have more positive associations with me/hands/being handled. I’m also working on names for them. I’m thinking of calling the Ancona “Dakin”, after the female protagonist of my favorite childhood book The Farthest Away Mountain, but I’m afraid people will assume I’m saying “Bacon” when I refer to her lol. I’m also thinking the name “Cricket” would suit her, as she is the one that hops around the most. She is often perched on the water tower, and jumped up onto my shoulder twice. The others, I’m still trying to decide what to call them! I’ve never felt so stuck with naming before. I just can’t decide on names that “feel” right.

The original 6 babies have all moved outside, which was a bittersweet milestone! They are becoming so beautiful. Colonel Potter (Charles) has absolutely stolen my whole heart. He comes running up to me whenever I approach their coop, and climbs into my hand for a “field trip”. Today I put him out on the grass to hang out with the big girls while they were foraging. He was watchful and kept his eye on a crow overhead, then hopped right along trying to follow the older hens around. It was so sweet. He is so mild mannered and precious to me, when I hold him and gently scratch his head he just closes his eyes and melts into my hand. I hope his temperament doesn’t change too much after chicken puberty, I just adore him.
Here’s a picture of the teenagers outside, enjoying their new coop and run, which has a LOT more space than the brooder they were in. I think in a week or so, we can let them out to mingle with the older girls. The older hens had a lot to say on day 1, but now don’t really pay any attention to them.
View attachment 4069825


Winchester will be going to his new home on the 23rd of this month, which I am so pleased about (but sad), as the home he is going to seems like a chicken playground! And he will have 6 hens to look after. Here’s a couple updated pictures of him.
View attachment 4069820
View attachment 4069821View attachment 4069822

Also. I got another chick, and decided to name her Beans. She is a Speckled Sussex that a friend got for me since I lost my baby girl Pepper. I don’t know why I named her Beans, but it just happened on the car ride home and felt right. She is my little beanie weenie and has no idea that she’s quite a lot smaller than her older sisters. It doesn’t slow her down any and they certainly don’t pick on her. I love her. She seems very brave. Here she is with a flower on her head:
View attachment 4069819
View attachment 4069823


Sorry for the long post, I will share some more pictures this week of the new pullets! Thanks for following along with me!

Beans is adorable!!
I’m glad Charles/potter is turning into such a good boy
He sounds just like my cockerel chunky boy when he was little, he cares more about his girls than me now though but he’s still a sweetie

 

[GreenJay]

On a more positive note!

I am attempting to bond with the new set of babies, which has not proven as easy as the ones I hatched myself. To be fair, hands have probably been scary things so far for these babies in their short life, being taken from the incubator, poked with a needle (they came vaccinated for Mareks) shoved in a box, taken out of a box, shoved back in another box, and finally ended up with me lol.

I think we had a breakthrough tonight! They scatter and scream bloody murder anytime we approach the brooder. BUT…

Tonight, I put some warm mash in my hand and put it in there and just waited. Within 10 minutes, they were all eating out of my hand and climbing all over it while I talked to them. Then, my Ancona, who has proven to be very feisty, actually jumped up on my shoulder twice! I think if I faithfully do this nightly ritual, they will begin to have more positive associations with me/hands/being handled. I’m also working on names for them. I’m thinking of calling the Ancona “Dakin”, after the female protagonist of my favorite childhood book The Farthest Away Mountain, but I’m afraid people will assume I’m saying “Bacon” when I refer to her lol. I’m also thinking the name “Cricket” would suit her, as she is the one that hops around the most. She is often perched on the water tower, and jumped up onto my shoulder twice. The others, I’m still trying to decide what to call them! I’ve never felt so stuck with naming before. I just can’t decide on names that “feel” right.

The original 6 babies have all moved outside, which was a bittersweet milestone! They are becoming so beautiful. Colonel Potter (Charles) has absolutely stolen my whole heart. He comes running up to me whenever I approach their coop, and climbs into my hand for a “field trip”. Today I put him out on the grass to hang out with the big girls while they were foraging. He was watchful and kept his eye on a crow overhead, then hopped right along trying to follow the older hens around. It was so sweet. He is so mild mannered and precious to me, when I hold him and gently scratch his head he just closes his eyes and melts into my hand. I hope his temperament doesn’t change too much after chicken puberty, I just adore him.
Here’s a picture of the teenagers outside, enjoying their new coop and run, which has a LOT more space than the brooder they were in. I think in a week or so, we can let them out to mingle with the older girls. The older hens had a lot to say on day 1, but now don’t really pay any attention to them.
View attachment 4069825


Winchester will be going to his new home on the 23rd of this month, which I am so pleased about (but sad), as the home he is going to seems like a chicken playground! And he will have 6 hens to look after. Here’s a couple updated pictures of him.
View attachment 4069820
View attachment 4069821View attachment 4069822

Also. I got another chick, and decided to name her Beans. She is a Speckled Sussex that a friend got for me since I lost my baby girl Pepper. I don’t know why I named her Beans, but it just happened on the car ride home and felt right. She is my little beanie weenie and has no idea that she’s quite a lot smaller than her older sisters. It doesn’t slow her down any and they certainly don’t pick on her. I love her. She seems very brave. Here she is with a flower on her head:
View attachment 4069819
View attachment 4069823


Sorry for the long post, I will share some more pictures this week of the new pullets! Thanks for following along with me!

Beans is adorable! Both the name and the chick LoL.

Colonel Potter seems so sweet!

Sounds like Major Winchester is going to a great home. They know he has to keep his name? In fact make sure they always call him the full name - Major Charles Emerson Winchester the 3rd in their snootiness Boston accent.
jk, but if I ever end up with a rooster I just might name him that

 

[horselover1999]

I knew a horse named Beans. No idea why he was named that, I never asked his owner. Sweet, talented, smart boy that hated the rain. I rode him a lot when his owner was out of town, and we helped start another horse under saddle. Twas fun when he locked onto the horse we were training like a cow!