July 18th "Due Date"! Anyone else?

[lroth217]

So far, all are well. I have to warn everyone who is new, just because you see something NEAR their vent doesn't mean that it is pasty butt. I have found a couple with larger, well, let's call it "umbilical stumps" and at first, on my BPR, I thought she had sat on some poo and it had dried to her but when I looked closely I saw a tiny piece of the cord coming out of the middle of it. Luckily the others have not noticed so no picking. However I am glad that I read on the MPC website, their ebook on Raising Baby Chicks: "The Umbilical Cord: Some baby chicks will arrive to you with an intact, attached umbilical cord. It looks like a very thin black string, attached to their rear. For heaven's sake, don't pull it! It's not "pasting up"! Just leave it alone. It will fall off within a day or two. Pulling it can really injure them." Thank you LORD!! I may have tried to soak and wipe it off!!!! A couple of the others had smaller versions of a "stump" with no cord but I couldn't really see them as much as I felt them. (unless I really looked).

Also my Polish seems to like to sleep on the side of the brooder where it is slightly cooler than the rest. Either that or she's discovered that she can't sleep when all the others keep walking over each other!!

Have to say, I am exhausted!!

I am looking forward to reading tomorrow all about how each of you got your chicks and all coming in 100% healthy!!!

 

[coalroadcabin]

They are here!!

Yippee! I got a call at 6:30 this morning letting me know my chicks were at the P.O. and I had them back home by 7:00. Everybody seems healthy and active. I'll try to get pictures downloaded later today.

 

[Wildflower_VA]

I just got my call! The truck just pulled in and they are not unloaded, but they are here! On my way!

 

[N&MSchroeder]

 

[GardenState38]

Best of Luck!
I still sit here, waiting...Gotta come today, right??

 

[N&MSchroeder]

Quote:
Me too!

 

[Chemguy]

Hi All. I got my first chicks yesterday. The post office called and I went down to pick them up. My mail carrier was a bit bummed...she was excited to deliver them, but a big storm the previous night had trees all over the road, and she wouldn't have been able to get to the house anyhow. My new (first) flock is made up of four Buff Orpingtons and 4 Barred Rock. So far, so good! One of the BO's was a little weak in the knees on arrival, but now is up and about with the others. All are eating, drinking and pooping fine.

The biggest issue I've had is with the dog. She's an Aussie/German shepherd/Rotweiler mix, and the herding instinct is strong in her! The chicks are on the back enclosed porch behind a closed door and the dog has been going crazy, whining at the door for a day now. I've brought her in to see them and have managed to calm her in the presence of the chicks. Looks like I have more work to do beyond raising the chicks!

 

[N&MSchroeder]

Quote:
Congratulations on your new chicks! Acclimating a dog to new chicks is definitely going to be a challenge. Post pictures when you can!

 

[lroth217]

Congratulations coalroadcabin, Wildflower_VA, and Chemguy!!!! They are a lot of work but WELL worth it!! I can't wait until my Granddaughter sees them, (but not for a few days!!) I spend sooo much time just watching them!!!!

Hang in there GardenState38 and N&MSchroeder, they're coming!!!

Make sure you have fresh batteries in your camera or it is all charged up!!!!

 

[Wildflower_VA]

One thing for certain, 32 chicks in a brooder is very different from my first six chicks in a brooder!!! I went to TSC last night to get another chick waterer base, but all they had was a quail base and one chick waterer and one quail waterer is not going to be enough for this crowd.

I have been getting the new chicks settled for the last hour and a half. One was dead in the box (Cornish cross), one of the speckled Sussex has only one eye open and the closed one does not look like it is matted shut. One SS had severe pasty butt, so I had to soak it in warm water to get it open. It pooped a lot as soon as I got it open and she has been drinking the electrolyte water for a very long time ever since. She must have been really dehydrated.

I only got five speckled Sussex, but they seem to be the ones that might all be in trouble. One seems fine physically, is eating and drinking, but chirps the distress call almost non-stop, which annoys the other chicks so much that they peck her right in the chirping beak.

I have taken a lot of pictures and videos, but it will be a while before I have time to upload and post them. I don't want to leave the chicks just yet.