Is this what "shrink-wrapped" looks like?

[pogmobum]

Some copper wire that i disinfected first because i read that someone else did the same, this is my first time with chicken surgery he doesn't seem to be bleeding half as much now and his airways are clear. Ya i never knew they had trouble with clotting either? When i checked him this morning it looked like someone had butchered a chicken there was so much blood it was bad but i think he's ok now perked up a bit

 

[carcar80]

Nice to know in case I ever need to do the same. I hope that did it! Great job. Boy, the things we do for these darned birds!!

 

[carcar80]

Duplicate

 

[carcar80]

Okay. Now that the babies are past the "new-hatched" stage (ie, steady on their feet and purposefully active), I have revamped my brooder/play areas and routine. So far it's working well but we shall see. Pics to come.

I did have the entire brooder soft with blankets and towels, which at this point makes for a LOT of NASTY laundry. Last year I did this the whole time but got a better idea this morning. No more playtime in the brooder. I am transferring them to a separate play area so they can quench their need to be splashy an disgusting. I transfer the light to there while they play, of course.

Then they go back to the brooder, which is now lined with that rubbery/soft cabinet liner? Anyone used that before? I'm nt sure how it will hold up to water but will find out. But that's the othe thing, in order to cut down on mass amounts of water tracked in the brooder, I took an idea I saw on here and put my waterer inside another container to see if that helps. Food is down on that end too. The only "cushy" area now is at the lighted end, where the light is in one corner so that they can stil get to a cool cushy spot if they want. That towel is inside another container to keep it from soaking up any water that gets on the rubber liner material.

I know they will outgrow it quickly, but my main goal is to keep hubby's workload down as much as possible once I go back to work.

 

[carcar80]

This was after a thirty-minute playtime and not too much harm done. So hopefully hubby can transfer them there 3 times/day or so and I can just throw the one towel out to dry at the end of the day and wash once I have a few to put in together.

Brooder pics.. from light end and from food end- they're huddled up drying out after play :





And then a "final count" pic, including the guy I helped out last night. Bet you can pick him out quickly .. His little swelling has almost totally gone down on his face so I'm quite happy with that and he is right in the middle of whatever the others are doing.







Here are the pics. Playpen.. like I said the light is over it while they play, of course.

 

[carcar80]

I'm totally laughing right now at how neat-as-a-pin these pics look. Check back with me in an hour!

 

[pogmobum]

A lot of people use cabinet liner with chicks so it must be good but it wont be absorbent if it gets wet, maybe put newspaper under it. the water and food in another area sounds good for keeping the mess contained i know how hard that is with ducks. I did use towels the first time but i got so sick of it that i just started using newspaper and just putting a small towel near the heat. Your set up sounds great hope it works out for your hubby lol

 

[carcar80]

Thanks. Paper underneath is a great idea. Or really, a towel.. I just get sick of the poo being stuck ON the towel.. maybe if I could just hose off the liner and have just wet towels underneath that would be ok? I was just worried to use plain paper just yet bc I didn't want them to slip and mess up a leg. But when they're bigger I'll feel better..

Either way it doesn't matter bc hubby will NOT be touching anything poo-crusted while I'm at work. LOL!! He'll be busy in the garden I feel sure.

 

[pogmobum]

I know same here, the amount of towel sheets pillows that have been designated as the dogs chicks or goats in this house is unbelievable :/

 

[carcar80]

LOL! I know it. Looks like I'll be scoping out more betadine-stained blankets at work, thank goodness they're easy to come by. We all have a supply for our pets, lol.