JUNE - JULY HATCH-ALONG!!!!!!!

[CluckNDoodle]

He is out!

He had a completely fused section of air cell membrane over his neck so needed help he couldn’t turn.
View attachment 1864921

Yay!!!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Ugh one of my sticky chicks Has a fused eyelid I found trying to clean it a little. If I try and separate the eyelid, I can only see about the first third. The rest of the eyelid doesn’t seem to even be there...

Is that a cull?

I’ve been randomly going through BYC posts and have seen several recently with eye damage due to con specifics. Not your case, I know, but in these pics I was impressed with how difficult it was to tell whether the eye was intact... Since you’ve had sticky chick issues, can you rub sterile lube over the eyelid to and give it a day to see if the eyelid may just be stuck together?

 

[jolenesdad]

Oh no! I don't have any idea, I've never seen that before! It does sound like a defect but chickens can survive just fine with only one eye. Hopefully it will open after some time passes? That membrane can be like cement. If it doesn't peel right off after the chick dries then you could try Vaseline or oil to peel the membrane off...I sure hope that's what it is and not the eyelid.

me too. me too. I was using coconut oil on the feathers to moisten them and preen them myself and so I dabbed some on the eye, that's how I was able to get it partially open, but, I really don think it has the whole eyelid. I hope Im wrong.

It's eating and drinking and moving around fine. I don't breed these birds, so I will give it every chance to be happy.... im most concerned with it fusing because its held together if it ISNT already fused. Newborn skin is weird like that... im nervous with it being hours old to even try much though. Grrrrrr.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

He is out!

He had a completely fused section of air cell membrane over his neck so needed help he couldn’t turn.
View attachment 1864921

Oh yeah!!! Great job - look at that little cutie!!! Marans?

 

[jolenesdad]

I’ve been randomly going through BYC posts and have seen several recently with eye damage due to con specifics. Not your case, I know, but in these pics I was impressed with how difficult it was to tell whether the eye was intact... Since you’ve had sticky chick issues, can you rub sterile lube over the eyelid to and give it a day to see if the eyelid may just be stuck together?

I think so. I am actually going to sneak it into a question with my vet when they call me back for dog blood work results today. "If you were going to advise someone which you clearly aren't doing here, about this "imaginary chicken issue"...what would you do?"

She is young enough that she still really recollects her large and farm animal training during vet school and will often give me advice with a disclaimer that she isn't a chicken vet.

 

[jolenesdad]

Oh yeah!!! Great job - look at that little cutie!!! Marans?

Yes! Blue Marans. I just moved ALL the morning hatches to the brooder, so its REALLY upset that it is in the side hatcher incubator all by itself. :-(

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Yes! Blue Marans. I just moved ALL the morning hatches to the brooder, so its REALLY upset that it is in the side hatcher incubator all by itself. :-(

Awww, poor little cutie! Soon little one! Congrats that your hatch is going well!!!

 

[jolenesdad]

Woohoo!!!

I decided to move the broody in full daylight. Since it hasn’t been a full week I felt like that should really tell me how committed she is.

Success!!! She didn’t really even mind.

She was on a top nest anyway, bottom is way better. I’ve read a lot that folks will do a couple chicks first with a new broody and then the next night add the rest. What do y’all do with a first timer who isn't hatching them?

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Woohoo!!!

I decided to move the broody in full daylight. Since it hasn’t been a full week I felt like that should really tell me how committed she is.

Success!!! She didn’t really even mind.

She was on a top nest anyway, bottom is way better. I’ve read a lot that folks will do a couple chicks first with a new broody and then the next night add the rest. What do y’all do with a first timer who isn't hatching them?
View attachment 1864957

Nice nest box! CluckNDoodle has a lot more broody transfer experience than I do... the one time that I’ve done it was 7 three day old chicks all slipped under the wings in the predawn AM. I could tell by listening that it went well because I heard happy, soft, contented sounds from mom and babies...

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Woohoo!!!

I decided to move the broody in full daylight. Since it hasn’t been a full week I felt like that should really tell me how committed she is.

Success!!! She didn’t really even mind.

She was on a top nest anyway, bottom is way better. I’ve read a lot that folks will do a couple chicks first with a new broody and then the next night add the rest. What do y’all do with a first timer who isn't hatching them?
View attachment 1864957

I'm so glad she's a chill broody! That's a good sign! I personally would give her as many chicks as you plan on having her raise all at once. The one time I waited a bit longer to give another chick, out of the 3 broodies, none of them would accept the straggler.