Jan./Feb. 2014 hatch a long

[Heidisgran]

My rooster took a couple steps out and went back in with the others. They are so cold. Poor babies. Eventually they came out to eat but won't go back in to get warm.

looking good there!
my younger guys that had never seen winter were like that at first...now they're fine with it...I'm in N. Texas....even the ducks stood on the edge of their house and just looked!! when they came out the first time they ice skated a few steps lol now they come out with out hesitating and demand water in their "pond" which is just a big cat pan for the time being...they are tiny call ducks and all can fit at once but only two can get a good dive and swim at a time....my poor husband freezes bucketing them their morning dunk water...glad he's indulgent!

 

[jjaazzy]

Ok, my little Silkies are officially 1 day old in the next couple of hours. Should I leave them an extra day in the incubator, when I open it up they tend to shiver, I don't know if that is from fear or cold. Of course I will set up the brooder box for them but I am afraid they might be better off in the incubator. Last year I got few silkies and they tend to deteriorate after the 3 day mark.. I am working my butt off to make sure they have a strong start. Thoughts.......oh and. Thinking about giving them some chopped dried oatmeal, and some cooked yellow of a egg. What about Gatorade?...

 

[gimmie birdies]

yolk water and tuna water or moist dogfood water.

 

[chickydee64]

Ok, my little Silkies are officially 1 day old in the next couple of hours. Should I leave them an extra day in the incubator, when I open it up they tend to shiver, I don't know if that is from fear or cold. Of course I will set up the brooder box for them but I am afraid they might be better off in the incubator. Last year I got few silkies and they tend to deteriorate after the 3 day mark.. I am working my butt off to make sure they have a strong start. Thoughts.......oh and. Thinking about giving them some chopped dried oatmeal, and some cooked yellow of a egg. What about Gatorade?...

HI,
I think if they shiver they are cold..............mine run away out of fear........
They do seem more fragile to me .Another day in the incubator is fine.....
and if they do not eat for another day it is OK also...........
I am sure you probably already thought of this................but let the brooder box heat up and check the temp
before you put them in. I put warm water in for them...........also (maybe this is just me)
but if I have fragile ones, I put a soft towel for them to cuddle on under the heat......it seems to help.
Egg yolk is great.........Good Luck and keep us posted . I am sure every thing will be fine.
I don't know about the Gatorade.....My sense is do not mix up to many different things.......
I am certain others will have feedback on this..........What a great chicken Mom you are to be so proactive..........

 

[dolfi]

Me Too day 16 so happy to see chicks dancing in there eggs lol,  And then I have a couple more do a couple days after that actually there should have been 12 but there are only two that seem to still be viable. I am so scared of making the wrong decision that I have not thrown any away not even the obviously clear ones lol I keep smelling them though lol. By the way what does everyone do with there bad eggs?

I know exactly how you feel. Day 15 for me.

I don't want to waste an egg, I don't want to eat them just incubate

I don't eat them or check either. I put them in the incubator and wait for fertility. Lol

 

[Heidisgran]

Ok, my little Silkies are officially 1 day old in the next couple of hours. Should I leave them an extra day in the incubator, when I open it up they tend to shiver, I don't know if that is from fear or cold. Of course I will set up the brooder box for them but I am afraid they might be better off in the incubator. Last year I got few silkies and they tend to deteriorate after the 3 day mark.. I am working my butt off to make sure they have a strong start. Thoughts.......oh and. Thinking about giving them some chopped dried oatmeal, and some cooked yellow of a egg. What about Gatorade?...

this is what I do
get a plastic storage tub...add some flake pine shavings
I hang a heat lamp secured with zip ties...I'm always afraid the clamp won't hold so the zip ties!
I put a heating pad that doesn't have an automatic turn off under half the tub...the half the lamp shines on...that way they can decide how much warmth they need
I put little chick waterer and feeder....by day 2 dip the beak in the water if 1 starts eating and drinking the others follow...I pick the food crumbles up and let them fall that seems to fascinate them and they peck it
hope that helps

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote: yes me too...especially if you have 1 or 2 that go in the brooder alone...I take a stuffed animal and drape a wash cloth over it like a tent...they snuggle under

 

[Heidisgran]

Quote: yes me too...especially if you have 1 or 2 that go in the brooder alone...I take a stuffed animal and drape a wash cloth over it like a tent...they snuggle under
just 1 other thing...I personally think the medicated chick starter is the best...if they wane then you can do the sav a chick...egg yolk etc....for a week at least
mine don't even show interest in the warm mash I make the big birds out of oatmeal and scratch etc until they are several weeks old....
anyone else??

 

[DeannaA]

just 1 other thing...I personally think the medicated chick starter is the best...if they wane then you can do the sav a chick...egg yolk etc....for a week at least
mine don't even show interest in the warm mash I make the big birds out of oatmeal and scratch etc until they are several weeks old....
anyone else??

When my chicks hatch, I give them the medicated feed too. I have tried oatmeal, eggs and anything else anyone has suggested but they never eat it. I do give them Nutridrench in their if they seem weak. I tried saveachick and it helped a little but when I have used the nutridrench it's like I gave them super crack. In ggod way. Is there a good way? You know what I mean.

 

[Farmer Viola]

just 1 other thing...I personally think the medicated chick starter is the best...if they wane then you can do the sav a chick...egg yolk etc....for a week at least
mine don't even show interest in the warm mash I make the big birds out of oatmeal and scratch etc until they are several weeks old....
anyone else??

agree on all parts.. I think water is the most important thing on the brooder transfer. food, less so. but I always dip their beaks in water when they move from incubator to brooder. I use flat marbles in the chick waterers so they don't drown

I like groGel for the 1-2-3 day olds... its a lot easier for them to eat than actual feed. I have to crumble the feed up a little bit for their small beaks on the first few days.

I also use medicated feed, and I think its important that they are on the medicated when they move from brooder to soil (since that is where the infection can possibly exist).
a week or 2 post soil they switch to grower non medicated..