It's alive

[garagegirl]

Hi there garagegirl here we are very excited we have some activity starting. Ok it has been 22 days since we have put some eggs in the incubator. We we not sure what we were doing and still a little unsure but here is what has happened so far.we have the incubator that has a self turner so I have read that the last 3 days they should not be turned so we have taken them out and placed in a box with the heat lamp at 99.5 temp. We have been candling the eggs and not quite sure what is what so we have been winging it so too say. So today we felt and heard pecking coming from inside, kids and I very excited this is the first of hatching for us. So now I have some questions and hoping someone can help so here it goes. 1) I don't have any chick starter on hand is there anything else I can feed it? I read on the internet you can give it instant oatmeal or infant cereal.All I have is big chicken food. (2) Do they need food and water as soon as they hatch? Yes I sound very unprepared for these chicks but I didn't think it was really going to happen well now I know. (3) What is the best thing to give it water in until I get another water container? (4) Will this chick be lonely because at the moment it will be the only one hatched? (5) Our rooster is a Rhode Island red and our hens that are laying are 3 buff orphingtons,1 barred rock(black&white) 7rhode island reds and 2 brown &white(not sure what they are) so what would that make them or what colors? Thank you in advance for the help. When our new baby has hatched we will post a pic. Thanks again.

 

[Poetical Peeps]

I don't know a ton about these things, but will take a stab...

1 & 2: They don't NEED food or water right away -- they can go a couple of days -- but water is a good idea. Do not give them feed intended for grown chickens. Not sure what to substitute for starter feed. Make sure you check for pasty bottoms -- especially if you're improvising with the feed.

3: You can give it water in a shallow dish, if you have nothing else, but put some clean rocks on the bottom -- enough that a chick can get a footing and not drown. Watch to make sure the chick is drinking -- sometimes you'll need to show them the water by gently tipping their beaks into it.

4: The chick will be lonely. If it's only till others hatch, not a big worry, just make sure it's warm enough. If no others hatch, try to get it some companionship ASAP.

5: For colors, I am not sure, but I think the buffs, reds, and browns will probably fall somewhere between the color of both parents. I believe the barred rock will produce sex-link chicks: https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/star

Good luck!

 

[Quyen Le]

You should have put them back into incubator with water to get high humidity level. Put under heat lamp, it doesn't give them enough humidity and they can't move inside. Also you should have leave them alone so they can position themselves to hatch. They won't eat right away. I don't know what's the good substitute for starter.

 

[LALOM]

You could feed them hard boiled egg yolk they love it. I add suger to the water too. I heard they can go 24 hrs without feed after they hatch. I try to have feed ready for the as soon as they are out of the bator. Good luck