Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

[COChix]

wing sexing for birds that are predisposed to it. I think you may have got it. but Band em for id to confirm. Its all a learning experence. You can use zip ties loosly fitted so you can replace them when they are out grown. deb

With only three I don't think I will need to band.

 

[bruceha2000]

I'll hop on board with the idea that they feather out faster.
......

Pictures of my 2012 chicks at ~24 days. Raised in a bathroom with a heat lamp that ended up heating the entire room to SERIOUSLY uncomfortable for humans. 95 first week, 90F second week, 85F third week. Black Australorps on the front lawn enjoying a foray out of the house (from Ideal Hatchery):




Pictures of my 2015 chicks at ~24 days. Raised outside by a broody. Black Australorps just outside the barn door (from Meyer Hatchery).



The 2012 chicks were hatched 3/11, the 2015 chicks 3/8 so the outside temps were about the same.

The tails don't seem to have developed differently but I'll let those wondering about body feathers decide for themselves

Or an F-stop. Hubby used to work at a photo shop. They'd send the newbies down to the basement with specific instructions to come back with an assorted package of F-stops.

I'm amazed i got any work done today. I took the portable camera from our security system and placed it in with the chicks so I could "keep an eye on them" while in my office today. My brooder looks small from this vantage point but it's 5'x3.5'. Enjoy this little dose of cuteness.

Hopefully I did this correctly. I've been told the camera has to be replaced for it's original purpose at night.

You did great, nice video, happy chicks,

 

[ShrekDawg]

Okay thanks for the info! I got a straight run of Welsummers...a few have ZERO tail feathers and the rest seem to be getting them. I tried to tell the diff by using the "V's" on top of their heads and they all look the same LOL! I need like a diagram or something ;P And not that it really matters if I wait a couple weeks to find out...it's just my impatience

Not sure if you mean neck feathers? Like pointed being boys? Someone told me those don't come in until i think like 10-12 weeks but it might have been 12-15.

No tail feathers are roos....  Hens develop all their feathers more quickly.  If you band them now you will see.  Wellies get very substantial legs so make sure to check fit and change out the bands as they grow.

Zip ties work....

About the no tail feathers being roos... I have 2 wellies that are a little over 3 weeks old and one grew tail feathers fast, the other just has stubby bits. However the one with tail feathers has got some quick comb development already so I wouldn't always rely on that. I don't mind, I want a Welsummer roo but the whole thing is still much too early to tell for sure.

I don't know about tail feathers but I had 9 chicks (one died at 6 days so now 8) raised in the bathroom with MHP the first 3 weeks then in the garage until 7 weeks and they feathered pretty slow in the bathroom cause it was so warm I guess, feathered MUCH faster once in the cool garage, but anyways, I had some chicks feather really fast and others were pretty slow. I had 2 Barred Rocks (now just 1), 2 Black Australorps, 3 Buff Orpingtons, and 2 Easter Eggers. The Easter Eggers developed really fast. They grew like weeds and feathered really quick too. The Orpingtons I think were the slowest. The Barred Rock was pretty fast and the Australorps but nowhere near the Easter Eggers haha

Anyway, my point is that some breeds feather faster than others too and even some individuals within the breeds. All of mine ended up being pullets.

 

[aart]

Quote: Bummer!!

 

[COChix]

Bummer!!

How many did you hatch? 10?

 

[aart]

Quote: Yep, I ended up with 10 from hatch...and the 6 from the Mill........and all 16 moved out to the coop this afternoon!!

Reworked the legs to fit in that groove on underside of crate tray...which sits on a couple inches of straw and a couple bricks.
After taking chicks out realized legs were too short, so had to quick cut some threaded rod(thank goodness I had some) to the right length.
Couldn't use the board on top because of new extra long legs, so went back to a towel.
But we got it done and they got over the huge environment change, found the heat for their backs,
and after about an hour were flitting around eating, drinking, running around with wood shavings on their beaks, then dashing back in for a warm up.
It's about 40 or so out there now, supposed to get down to 35 tonite....I'll be out there late tonite and very early tomorrow to make sure their not all dead(tongue in cheek).

Brought their same feeders and waterer and tote lid out.

 

[MesMama]

About the no tail feathers being roos... I have 2 wellies that are a little over 3 weeks old and one grew tail feathers fast, the other just has stubby bits. However the one with tail feathers has got some quick comb development already so I wouldn't always rely on that. I don't mind, I want a Welsummer roo but the whole thing is still much too early to tell for sure.

Well I just might have a couple free to a good home I posted pics of one I'm wondering about on the Welsummer thread to get some feedback so we'll see

 

[MesMama]

Not sure if you mean neck feathers? Like pointed being boys? Someone told me those don't come in until i think like 10-12 weeks but it might have been 12-15.

I don't know about tail feathers but I had 9 chicks (one died at 6 days so now 8) raised in the bathroom with MHP the first 3 weeks then in the garage until 7 weeks and they feathered pretty slow in the bathroom cause it was so warm I guess, feathered MUCH faster once in the cool garage, but anyways, I had some chicks feather really fast and others were pretty slow. I had 2 Barred Rocks (now just 1), 2 Black Australorps, 3 Buff Orpingtons, and 2 Easter Eggers. The Easter Eggers developed really fast. They grew like weeds and feathered really quick too. The Orpingtons I think were the slowest. The Barred Rock was pretty fast and the Australorps but nowhere near the Easter Eggers haha

Anyway, my point is that some breeds feather faster than others too and even some individuals within the breeds. All of mine ended up being pullets.

The "V" shape on top of their heads (for Welsummers) are pointed for females and less so for males
Here's a pic

 

[duluthralphie]

Beekissed, I want to thank you for telling us about those waterers from gun dog supply, They are super, my pads (I use on the bottom of the cages) are dryer and I do not have to change them daily. Yes, they get a little dirtier, but without the water spilling from the old waterers they do not stink daily. and the pads can soak up the moisture in the poop right away..


When I first put them in the chicks had a fit, they had to figure out if it was safe or not. It also gave me extra room in my small cages!

 

[GardenNut]

I may have to try these as well! I'm still using the standard chick waterer, since my girls can't seem to manipulate the horizontal nipples. They'll drink from them when I fill the little reservoir but can't seem to do it themselves. Instead, they were using the bucket for a launching pad to practice flying and a poop board! I'll give them some time and reintroduce again. I also think they're getting a little stir crazy in the brooder box. I may move them to the coop next week. I haven't done it already since I'm going to have to run a very long extension cord for MHP. I'm building them a little tractor/playpen to at least start getting them acclimated during the day, if this Maryland ever stops changing its mind! In the meantime, they're "flappin' and yackin'!"