INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

Along the lines of rats and mice in the coop at night - this is a pretty disturbing video. At least when they go towards the chickens they peck them away. Chickens can't see at night, however, so if there are enough of the rats you can see how this could be a problem.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Along the lines of rats and mice in the coop at night - this is a pretty disturbing video. At least when they go towards the chickens they peck them away. Chickens can't see at night, however, so if there are enough of the rats you can see how this could be a problem.

That's crazy. I can't believe the one rat ran right up and into the rooster. They are running around like they own the place

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I just set 7 BR and 7 RIR, I also candled the 9 Marans and everyone of them is getting more filled and the air sacks look great, there is still a little light area on the bottom but this makes movement easy to see. and let me tell ya they are moving around. All but one egg, had to throw it out it has not changed sense the last candling, this is day 15 for them so I figured it was a dud and to get it out before it blew up. My plan of action is to remove all but two trays from the auto turner and lay the marans in the floor while the 14 other eggs stay on the turner. I will bump up the humidity on lock down day and hope for the best that it does not effect the 14 eggs newer eggs to much. fingers crossed. next year I will have a second bator for this reason. I hope both sets turn out good.

Good luck with your eggs

 

[raisinemright]

Good luck with your eggs

Thank you, I know its not the best situation for them but I got faith! I cant believe that a couple days at a higher humidity would hurt that much but im not a expert by no means. Just have to cross my fingers and hope for the best.

 

[chick rookie]

When I see a broody get out her fry-pan and cook the meat and insects that she has caught for her chicks.... that's when I'll start cooking meat for my birds

Seriously, though, it sounds like you've given them some meat which is a good thing.

I'm wondering if there may have been some kind of predator that could have gotten into the pen at all? Sometimes mice and rats will attack birds at night when they're on the roost. I know one gal who said she went out at night and could see mice crawling on her birds!!

They will literally pull feathers, etc. if there is an infestation.

I don't remember if you said you saw the other chickens actually attacking her or not.

lol I don't think raw meat is bad for them, they catch mice, bugs and I have even seen them kill and eat small birds.
I didn't see anyone fighting with her, haven't seen anyone fight her even when she was new, she started a few fights but they were over very fast and that was the end of that.
I don't have an over abundance of mice, they eat them, and I have not seen any rats around I also have a dog " mouser " does real good at keeping them under control here.
I did have some coons take a couple of my hens and tore the heck out of my coop, busted perches and nesting boxes, but that was about 6 days ago, the girls are just now getting back to laying good for me again.
I wonder if she got hurt during that and I just didn't see anything, I do have 25 now. I try to look them over pretty well every day at the morning feed time.

ChickRookie, you may have to tube feed her until she heals a bit.

don't know how or what to use or what to use in the way of food?

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

lol I don't think raw meat is bad for them, they catch mice, bugs and I have even seen them kill and eat small birds. 
I didn't see anyone fighting with her, haven't seen anyone fight her even when she was new, she started a few fights but they were over very fast and that was the end of that.
 I don't have an over abundance of mice, they eat them, and I have not seen any rats around I also have a dog " mouser " does real good at keeping them under control here.
 I did have some coons take a couple of my hens and tore the heck out of my coop, busted perches and nesting boxes, but that was about 6 days ago, the girls are just now getting back to laying good for me again.  
 I wonder if she got hurt during that and I just didn't see anything, I do have 25 now. I try to look them over pretty well every day at the morning feed time.


don't know how or what to use or what to use in the way of food?

I use a syringe. I use calf manna, the powder kind, and feed that to them. If I have one that gets sick or acts weak I always give it to them. It kind of gives them a boost and fills them up more than water. You can get a little baggy of it at rural king for around $3. I dilute it a lot though

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
I'm not sure how much you spent on the eggs, but chicks have gotten trapped under turners before. maybe a small basket from the dollar store could help. Still when my chicks get going in the bater they climb on everything other eggs, sponges, thermometers, even other chicks still attached to the egg shell.
Also shipped eggs are hard enough to hatch, I would not purposely do anything that could cause them harm. Shipped eggs are more delicate in a way and need special care while incubating. Some people don't turn shipped eggs for a few days to give air cells time to "heal".

 

[chick rookie]

I use a syringe. I use calf manna, the powder kind, and feed that to them. If I have one that gets sick or acts weak I always give it to them. It kind of gives them a boost and fills them up more than water. You can get a little baggy of it at rural king for around $3. I dilute it a lot though

I have a 40lb bag of that, we had a calf that didnt make it, got almost a full bag. going to go give her some now. thanks

 

[chick rookie]

Along the lines of rats and mice in the coop at night - this is a pretty disturbing video. At least when they go towards the chickens they peck them away. Chickens can't see at night, however, so if there are enough of the rats you can see how this could be a problem.

get a 55 gal. barrel put a little bit of feed in the bottom and stick or something so they can climb up it and put it outside the coop but close to the wall. take all feed and water out of coop. the rats jump in to get the feed but cant jump out. in the morning you go out and kill them. Thats how my grandmother always got rid of them.

 

[raisinemright]

I'm not sure how much you spent on the eggs, but chicks have gotten trapped under turners before. maybe a small basket from the dollar store could help. Still when my chicks get going in the bater they climb on everything other eggs, sponges, thermometers, even other chicks still attached to the egg shell.
Also shipped eggs are hard enough to hatch, I would not purposely do anything that could cause them harm. Shipped eggs are more delicate in a way and need special care while incubating. Some people don't turn shipped eggs for a few days to give air cells time to "heal".

I made a hardware cloth basket I thought about putting them in. But I think im going to take out all but two of the trays and put in a divider. Hopefully they behave in the bator until I can transfer them to the brooder.