Illinois...

[chickendreams24]

Hi guys

Bad bad day here. Just terrible and I can't stop crying.

We moved the 8 baby quail from our test hatch out to the brooder in the coop. This morning we discovered that the power tripped out in the coop(something that hasn't happened in like 8 months) probably because of the rain but we don't really know why.

All 8 baby quail were dead when we found them.

I feel just terrible and I know DH2B does too. We've never had that happen and unfortunately in spite of it being quite warm out today for the time of year and all other precautions they were gone.

I'm just devastated and I can't stop crying.

We will brood in the porch from now on at least until summer but probably always for quail and probably always a couple of weeks for chicks. This is so heartbreaking.

We have more quail hatching in two weeks and they will be brooded in the porch for sure.

I've never seen anything like this. They were fine at midnight I know BC I checked.


The juvenile chick that was down is still alive and eating and drinking.

So sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I just feel terrible.

x2

Thank you guys. I'm still devastated. But now we know. Sometimes all the precautions in the world just aren't enough.

Our bantam eggs have started hatching today and that has given me something to hope for and cheer me up. On our and 4 more pips.

The chick that hasn't been able to stand is moving around more but still not able to stand. She's a little wiggle butt and scoots around today. We are continuing to move her over back to her food and waterer.

 

[cavemanrich]

Chickendreams24

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Hi guys

Bad bad day here. Just terrible and I can't stop crying.

So sorry. Sending hugs

 

[Faraday40]

The chick that hasn't been able to stand is moving around more but still not able to stand. She's a little wiggle butt and scoots around today. We are continuing to move her over back to her food and waterer.

I remember reading about some type of mobility ailment (maybe - thiamine deficiency) that giving high animal protein worked wonders. A few members on the Indiana thread were talking about it last year I wish I could remember more. It only stuck in my head because one person fed raw grass-fed ground beef to her chicken, & it worked. I was thinking "Yuck!" But it's worth a little research to see if your weak chick has the same symptoms.

 

[cavemanrich]

I think TUNA in water would be good source of instant protein.

 

[chickendreams24]

x2

Thank you guys. I'm still devastated. But now we know. Sometimes all the precautions in the world just aren't enough.

Our bantam eggs have started hatching today and that has given me something to hope for and cheer me up. On our and 4 more pips.

The chick that hasn't been able to stand is moving around more but still not able to stand. She's a little wiggle butt and scoots around today. We are continuing to move her over back to her food and waterer.

Chickendreams24

So sorry. Sending hugs

Hi all I just wanted to tell you allow grateful I am for your kindnesses. Your sympathy and support without judgement mean the world to me.

I'm sure some people would say that we should have known and blame us. Truthfully it's hard for me not to. But we had no clue. I just have to keep telling myself that and thinking that those chicks must be with my OEGB roo Mickey that we lost and several others. May they nestle in the arms of God and never feel the cold again until the day I can snuggle them again and tell them I love them.

It's so hard them having such short lives and being so sweet and loved. Their deaths were senseless just a stupid thing that happened. I miss them and I love them gosh I loved those tiny little things! sad.png

Through my tears this morning I begged DH2B to bring them back to wake them up. I'm sure I was in a bit of shock of course I knew they were gone but I needed hope. Unfortunately the only hope to be had was in the 5 pips in the bator.

It's hard I think I'll hurt a long time over this one. We've always been so careful and DH2B calls me paranoid often. Today he didn't call me paranoid once as I obsessively checked the incubator and the flock.

It doesn't undo the loss and the hurt but today the bantam eggs hatched from the same set day as the group of quail.
4/7 alive and well, 1/7 DIS at lockdown but I left it just in case. 1 other died after pipping a vein it appears. Will eggtopsy tomorrow. It's way too late and I didn't have the heart.

Little number seven got stuck in the egg and required some help. We were out to dinner with my Mom who wanted to cheer me up. I love my Mom and I appreciate it so much. I'm just glad she understands especially as she was supposed to come over to see the baby quail this morning.

Back to little number 7. It had been 24 hours since it did anything and had made two pips vertically in the egg. Membrane dried to it's face and it couldn't turn or zip so I had to remove that carefully with a damp qtip. I wrapped it in warm wet paper towels and left it in the incubator for two hours. I thought I may have seen some tiny veins left.

Perhaps BC of the day I had I couldn't get it out of my mind and kept going back. Afraid I would lose it. Finally I decided to just look a bit more and pulled the chick from the egg as it seemed to be ready by that point. It was a little early and there were some itty bitty veins left in the bottom of the egg and it's navel was a little open.

The baby is now resting in the bator back in warm wet paper towels. Hopefully the navel closes well tonight while the chick sleeps.

Ugh I feel like a failure today. Still I know that chick would have died for sure if I hadn't intervened for no other reason than a bit of dried blood which turned the membrane to glue. Which I discovered was due to that chick pipping a small vein as I could clearly see it. Thankfully it was very minor. So minor we didn't see it at all earlier before the assist.

Fingers crossed for the chick. For all of them. The brooder will be brought into the porch for them in the morning set up and prewarmed. They will be moved after I'm sure little number 7 (or 5 whatever you want to call it) is okay.

Hoping for some pure OEGB and a little Mickey chick. Regardless it will be fun to see what everyone turns out like.

Thank you all again for the kindness and support. Today has been a roller coaster of emotions and I'm still rather shocked. I feel joy for the new life agony over the loss and both fear and hope for the new babies.

Now I must try to turn off my mind and sleep. If I can.


Hope I didn't forget to say anything

I remember reading about some type of mobility ailment (maybe - thiamine deficiency) that giving high animal protein worked wonders.  A few members on the Indiana thread were talking about it last year  I wish I could remember more.  It only stuck in my head because one person fed raw grass-fed ground beef to her chicken, & it worked.  I was thinking "Yuck!"  But it's worth a little research to see if your weak chick has the same symptoms.

I think TUNA in water would be good source of instant protein. 

Thank you guys know the suggestions and quick help for the little downed chick. She's moving more and more but still not standing yet. She seems more lively though. DH2B said he saw her kinda halfway support her weight and half stand. If that's the case it's definitely improvement.

I will be doing more research tomorrow as I believe I've heard of the same thing. If that's the case we'll do whatever it takes. I am glad that I can give this chick the care it needs and continue to nurse it. While idk what I'm up against at least it's an enemy I can try to overcome unlike losing the baby quail.

More tomorrow guys. Had a migraine most of the day I'm sure from stress and all so I'd better head to bed.

Please everyone keep you fingers crossed for the chicks. Also upon looking again the next set of 10 quail are due to hatch in approximately 8 days.

 

[Faraday40]

@chickendreams24
Today's another day. We are our own worst judges, but remember it was an accident. Try not to beat yourself up. We're human & all make mistakes. You of course did not intend for any to perish, so it was literally an accident. I once dropped an egg while prepping for lockdown. Down it went - SMASH - on a hard tile floor. I cried as I saw it squirming, bleeding & slowly die. There was nothing I could do for it at that point. It was difficult to experience the joy of all the healthy chicks as they hatched b/c I felt guilty & miserable over the one I had killed. Grief & mistakes are part of life. All we can do is learn from our mistakes, try to do better in the future, and forgive ourselves.

 

[Faraday40]

Eggs went into lockdown. (Dumb luck = a light bulb went out today which I quickly replaced. One would do the job, but I have 2 so there's a back up. The other one went out on day 3 of incubation, so at least I know they should both be fine for the rest of the season.)

They say don't count your chickens before they hatch, but that's exactly what we're trying to do. LOL Here are the current hatch predictions:
Backyard

Farmer's market - washed & refrigerated

Store - shipped, washed, refrigerated
Chicken 8/8 look good

Chicken 4/8 look good

Chicken 6/8 look good
Quail 3/5 look good

Quail 1/5 look good, 2 clear, 2?

Quail 0/5, 1 ?


In this small hatch, the most surprising result is how well the shipped, washed & frozen eggs are doing. They arrived on our doorstep slightly frozen when temps were in the 20s.. Of course the chicks still need to get themselves OUT. The air cells are crazy-looking & some were still jiggly on day 14.

I'm also surprised on how poorly the quail eggs are doing. The male was injuring the females, so he got visits about once a week instead of living with them. I'm hoping we'll get another female b/c 3 are not enough for Albert. He's DD's fav, so the hens would go before she'd give him up.

 

[megpie021]

I am super sad to write this. But I am hoping someone can help. We got two bantams to round out our six we can have. One of them has what I am pretty sure is a slipped tendon. Its joint is red and swollen, its holding its foot off the ground or out to the side when resting. I tried to follow the directions provided in the emergency thread I started for a slipped tendon, but its so tiny I cant feel anything that I think might even be a tendon. It is still hopping around and eating and drinking and pooping. So its got a will to live. Is there anyone kind of nearby that may be able to help it better? We will give it to anyone that thinks they can help better than us on our first go. The hatchery Big R uses is Townline, they only sell three feather footed bantams, porcelain and mille fleur d'uccles and white silkies. I am pretty sure its a mille fleur since its dark. I currently have its joint wrapped and its feet loosely hobbled so it can move a bit better. It seems to balance better this way. Thanks in advance.

 

[chickendreams24]

I am super sad to write this. But I am hoping someone can help. We got two bantams to round out our six we can have. One of them has what I am pretty sure is a slipped tendon. Its joint is red and swollen, its holding its foot off the ground or out to the side when resting. I tried to follow the directions provided in the emergency thread I started for a slipped tendon, but its so tiny I cant feel anything that I think might even be a tendon. It is still hopping around and eating and drinking and pooping. So its got a will to live. Is there anyone kind of nearby that may be able to help it better? We will give it to anyone that thinks they can help better than us on our first go. The hatchery Big R uses is Townline, they only sell three feather footed bantams, porcelain and mille fleur d'uccles and white silkies. I am pretty sure its a mille fleur since its dark. I currently have its joint wrapped and its feet loosely hobbled so it can move a bit better. It seems to balance better this way. Thanks in advance. 

How old is this chick?
And where are you located?