July Hatch-a-long

[sono-chic]

you can separate them if you have enough brooders

What size band do you get for chicks? Ill have welsummers and americaunas. How long will the first size fit? Where can you find them?

 

[Gen9]

All but 3 hatched (so far) one of them pipped but it looks really weird, like it wasn't ready to pip, & the membrane isn't white, I can see its beak try to open it, I chipped part of the shell away & now I see white membrane but was afraid to do more because there's a small vein. Are there any signs to watch for? I'm just scared it can't breathe.

 

[Shellz]

All but 3 hatched (so far) one of them pipped but it looks really weird, like it wasn't ready to pip, & the membrane isn't white, I can see its beak try to open it, I chipped part of the shell away & now I see white membrane but was afraid to do more because there's a small vein. Are there any signs to watch for? I'm just scared it can't breathe.

Just keep that membrane moist. It should be ok. He/she might take a big nap before pipping thru membrane. If its chirping, its reached air cell. That's good! I'd be worried about breaking open a vein if I tried to break membrane. Good luck!

 

[Gen9]

Just keep that membrane moist. It should be ok. He/she might take a big nap before pipping thru membrane. If its chirping, its reached air cell. That's good! I'd be worried about breaking open a vein if I tried to break membrane. Good luck!

Thanks!
Looks like the chicks pipped through the membrane for it. This is why I have too many, one will hatch & they all smother it to get a "taste"
Last night I was fighting them off with the straw (through the vent) & they just kept trying to come at one of my not-so-quite Olive Egger

 

[Gen9]

What size band do you get for chicks? Ill have welsummers and americaunas. How long will the first size fit? Where can you find them?

I'm so sorry I didn't see this question earlier! You can look up poultry leg band charts - usually the suppliers will have the chart on their website. I think chicks start off with a size 4, but double check. There are kinds that you roll on/off, some people make their own leg bands from colored plastic piping (usually found in the plumbing section at the hardware store.)
I don't know how long it takes to outgrow, I've never used them. I'm relying on this old noggin to remember what chicks came from which hen. & I've got Black Sex Links, RIR, & Ameraucana hybrids. Some if the RIR look just like the Ameraucanas

 

[crazyhen]

Concerning leg bands: The best for little chicks is the electrical bands you can find at lowes. You can find them in the electric department they slide together on the ends then you clip them off at the right length. I use a pencil between them and the leg to keep from getting them to small. Watch them carefully. You will need to replace them about every two weeks they grow fast. I use a small cat toe nail clipper to encircle and remove them. You can find different colors if you look in different stores and different sizes too. I use them for large hens and roos too, later when they are full grown to know where they came from sometimes too. Just remember to check them and use that pencil when putting them on. You do not want them tight ever.

 

[Gen9]

Concerning leg bands: The best for little chicks is the electrical bands you can find at lowes. You can find them in the electric department they slide together on the ends then you clip them off at the right length. I use a pencil between them and the leg to keep from getting them to small. Watch them carefully. You will need to replace them about every two weeks they grow fast. I use a small cat toe nail clipper to encircle and remove them. You can find different colors if you look in different stores and different sizes too. I use them for large hens and roos too, later when they are full grown to know where they came from sometimes too. Just remember to check them and use that pencil when putting them on. You do not want them tight ever.

Are those the same as zip ties?

 

[KrazyChromatics]

Quote:
i get mine off ebay, i start with rubber bands, size 4 then 6 then i go to a size 7 plastic band which will work for a while, then i go to size 11 for standards... i get my plastic bands from china

 

[KrazyChromatics]

i use a wood burning pen then perminant marker inside the burns, i have the generation, DOB, and individual number for each bird


Just squeeze those ends together, and they clip shut, to remove slide the ends against each other *one up, one down*


Some get names on theirs if they have one

 

[Gen9]

Okay, 14 hatched- 9 in the brooder 5 in the incubator - 3 internal pips, 1 external ... I am not sure if the external pip & one of the internal pips are going to make it. I took another group of chicks that hatched 12 hours ago and put in the brooder, and threw away the egg shells and paper cartons to make more room, so the younger chicks could sleep more and hopefully won't bother the ones that are trying to hatch. After this is done, I am hatching out another batch. I keep going back and forth but I have some of my leghorn's eggs that are hopefully fertile.