July Hatch-a-Long (including 4th of July hatch-a-long)

[SnapdragonQ]

Somethings I have noticed about my Bielefelders:
1. they are quieter than my other chicks
2. They are more curious/adventurous than my other chicks. They seem almost bored in the brooder. They have plenty of food and water and are constantly pecking everything....lol.

Any ideas on what I can give them to play with? I am not sure what I can give them. I have some ideas. TIA

Do you have anything that you would give to caged birds like parakeets? If not you can google DIY birdy toys (ask me how I know this)
Maybe get some branches (twigs) from non-toxic trees that you can lay on the shavings for them to practice "perching" on. Or just peck at.
Usually by about day 4 or 5 I start gathering little bits of safe grasses and clovers from the yard, snipping up with scissors like herbs, and sprinkling them around to stimulate natural behaviors.

When my turkey poults were babies I hung a little parakeet mirror in the brooder, because turkeys love shiny things, and they loved it. I think there is an article too in the brooder or hatching/incubation section about chick enrichment. I haven't read the article, but I've seen it over there.

 

[Hucklekree]

Thank you! How do you know this? Lol

I was thinking some grasses would be a good start but maybe I will wait a bit. I do have a mirror maybe they will discover vanity and quit pecking everything... . I have heard about chicks needing stimulation in the brooder. Haven't personally experienced it until now. But this is the first year I have delved into the realm of shipped hatching eggs and new breeds not from the local feed store.

A good learning experience

 

[FortCluck]

Somethings I have noticed about my Bielefelders:
1. they are quieter than my other chicks
2. They are more curious/adventurous than my other chicks. They seem almost bored in the brooder. They have plenty of food and water and are constantly pecking everything....lol.

Any ideas on what I can give them to play with? I am not sure what I can give them. I have some ideas. TIA

Toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls. Make little hideouts with boxes. Give them cat balls.

 

[Trisseh]

First internal pip on a d’uccle egg, there are 6 due to hatch Wednesday. I find that these guys tend to like to hatch a little early, but maybe it’s just my incubator. I had to turn it slightly higher for the standard sized eggs that are in there, so maybe it’s a smidge too hot for these guys... No problems with the first batch though, so hopefully these do ok too. Duck eggs are all doing well so far, hoping to get a decent hatch rate on those, since I need to replace my poor little Swedish that died, and I was already planning on a few more girls, if I get some.
The little splay legged Legbar actually has bilateral slipped tendons, so trying her with manual replacement, wraps, and a chick chair. And lots of crossed fingers. She’s happily sitting in there eating, drinking and pooping so we shall see.

 

[Hucklekree]

Thanks toilet paper rolls are an immediate can do!

 

[AgnesGray]

Somethings I have noticed about my Bielefelders:
1. they are quieter than my other chicks
2. They are more curious/adventurous than my other chicks. They seem almost bored in the brooder. They have plenty of food and water and are constantly pecking everything....lol.

Any ideas on what I can give them to play with? I am not sure what I can give them. I have some ideas. TIA

I drew dots on the walls at various heights inside the brooder. They love pecking at them. Also put a little mirror in for them.

 

[FortCluck]

First internal pip on a d’uccle egg, there are 6 due to hatch Wednesday. I find that these guys tend to like to hatch a little early, but maybe it’s just my incubator. I had to turn it slightly higher for the standard sized eggs that are in there, so maybe it’s a smidge too hot for these guys... No problems with the first batch though, so hopefully these do ok too. Duck eggs are all doing well so far, hoping to get a decent hatch rate on those, since I need to replace my poor little Swedish that died, and I was already planning on a few more girls, if I get some.
The little splay legged Legbar actually has bilateral slipped tendons, so trying her with manual replacement, wraps, and a chick chair. And lots of crossed fingers. She’s happily sitting in there eating, drinking and pooping so we shall see.

Bantams tend to hatch at day 18 or 19 for me and standard chickens on day 21

 

[FortCluck]

I drew dots on the walls at various heights inside the brooder. They love pecking at them. Also put a little mirror in for them.

Laughing because I have rain boots with colored dots on them and my chickens STILL peck at them after 2 years. The chicks love my boots when I visit them.

 

[Yep I Talk To Chickens]

Here is my baby my chicken only hatched ol1 chick

 

[Trisseh]

Bantams tend to hatch at day 18 or 19 for me and standard chickens on day 21

My last batch of d’uccles hatched slightly early but at the very tail end of day 20. The sebrights were almost to the hour on day 21. Lol. Definitely don’t mind if these come early though, some normal chicks would be nice, after those disastrous legbars. Haha.