July 18th "Due Date"! Anyone else?

[N&MSchroeder]

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How did your hatch go?

 

[Wildflower_VA]

The first time I raised chicks, I put in aspen shavings for bedding right from the first, as recommended in the book "City Chicks," and I thought it worked out well. But, after reading lots of posts about putting down paper towels for the first few days, I decided to try that with this bunch. I am using a swimming pool as a brooder, so I put down several layers of newspaper, covered that with a couple of inches of aspen shavings, then put several layers of paper towels over that. With the pool being round and the paper towels being square, there was still tiny bits of shavings they could get to, and they found them right away, and started scratching in them. After an hour, they still had the shavings in their water.

That, combined with how soon the paper towels were covered in poop, which smelled to high heaven, I took up all the paper towels, added more shavings, then covered about a third of the shavings with paper towels only on the side with the feeders and waterers. Then I put the waterers on 12 x 12 ceramic tiles. So far, the brooder is staying cleaner and less stinky and the waterers are staying cleaner for longer. I had to give it a try, but I am not a fan of the paper towels. I couldn't believe how heavy with poop those paper towels were after less than 24 hours, and how stinky. Maybe with a small amount of chicks, but not with 32 chicks.

I, too, way underestimated how much brooder space would be needed for a large number of chicks. I was hoping to get through a week with all of them in the low-sided swimming pool, but I don't think that will work. I also underestimated how quickly the little chicks would be able to escape over the sides. LOL The Cornish crosses were jumping ship the first day, and the barred rocks were close behind. One little BR was jumping out every few minutes, and then screaming bloody murder, so I had to put bird netting over the whole thing.

Maybe I will be able to make the swiming pool brooder last until Monday, when the temps are supposed to come down into the high 80s. This heatwave is killing me.

 

[Lady Chickadee]

The sick EE died this morning

. I'm just glad that all the others are okay.

 

[lroth217]

NO, Lady Chickadee! Oh that is so not okay.

I was pulling for her. I hate it when this stuff happens.

I always get so attached to the ones that need the tlc.

Well I know you did your best. Now you just love the others that much more.

 

[Wildflower_VA]

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I'm so sorry. Sometimes there is more wrong with a chick than what is visible on the outside. You did your best and helped her all you could, so she had comfort and caring until the end.

 

[GardenState38]

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I'm so sorry! I know how you must feel

I, too was pulling for the little girl.

 

[Lady Chickadee]

Thanks everyone! I hated to lose her,she was so pretty.She was doing fine until we found her and it seemed like she fell in the water so we tried to get her to drink some stuff we got that was suppose to make them stronger but she was really weak and it just went all down hill from there.
Edit:I have a bantam chick that's acting a little to sleepy than the others. S/he will move around sometimes, will sometimes get a drink of water and peck at the feed.S/he usually falls asleep when pecking at the feed though. I gave her/him some sugar water and then put her/him back in there with the others. I'm hoping that s/he will be back to normal in the morning,I'd hate to lose another one.

 

[bobzant]

I ordered 7 bantams on the 11th from Ideal Poultry. All Different kinds. The shipping date is supposed to be the 27th and they are priority mail. We are in a seemingly endless heat wave and i am worried to death about the little peeps. my 5 mo old chickens are all doing okay with the heat except my partridge cochin that has been confined to a kennel in the house. its not much cooler in here but its better than out there. I just dont know if i could handle opening a box of dead chicks

ill be worried sick until they get here. Glad to see everyone else is having decent luck.

 

[N&MSchroeder]

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Hi and

Yes, the heat definitely was a worry, but it seems that on this thread, all arrived safely.

I have also read where others were not so lucky.

I was envisioning this box of dead chicks myself, but they were peeping like crazy when I picked them up. Best wishes on your shipment!

Keep us posted!

 

[ForgePondFarm]

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The temp in the room is 85 because of the heat wave. Perhaps we do not need the light at all no one has taken up residenc under it. They have plenty of room but can huddle if needed. I was going to wait until the end of their second week to move them out but it sounds like you feel that could be over cautious? The chicks shipped on Wednesday afternoon and arrived Friday at one o'clock. As an update the two we isolated are doing much better. No signs of pecking in the flock. The paper towels are gone and pine shavings are in. They actually seem happier with that. It is hilarious watching them flock. One runs to one side of the brooder and a stampede ensues.