My button eggs are hatching in my aviary.

[smallbluejellybean]

Well today is the big day. I went in for my normal morning tidy up, feeding and water. Since today is the day, 16 days after my hens started to sit on their eggs, I checked one of their eggs and BINGO! it was pipping big time.
I was wondering when the chicks will finally come out from under their mothers?
Is it when all of them hatch?
Its lunch time now. I know they will have to dry off etc.
I just can't wait to see them.

I also have 13 in a brooder. Is it ok to give them some small meal worms as a treat?
The eldest are 5 days old.

 

[Fowl97]

im not possitive but i thought they had to be older and

 

[smallbluejellybean]

Well I put a couple in there and they are play with them. At least they are having fun. A New Toy!!!

 

[Overeasyplz]

Aww, how sweet! Post some pics!!

 

[citalk2much]

The only problem with meal worms and baby buttons is they think toes look like worms and you can end up with bloody toes

 

[smallbluejellybean]

Quote:
Oh no!!! I hope not.
Well they played with them for awhile and then ate them all up.
No toe damage this time.
Thanks for the advise, as I wouldn't have thought of that.
I will take photos as soon as they come out with their mothers.
I think they are waiting for all of them to hatch.
Maybe tomorrow.

Cheers Martha

 

[xxSonja]

Yay for baby buttons!! i wish mine would hurry up and hatch but Mrs Quail got off the nest last night and hasn't gone back yet so im not sure they will now

 

[smallbluejellybean]

Hi Sonja,
I have two hens on one nest. I don't know how they are going to share out the chicks?
If all hatch it will make my chick count way over 30.
The ones in the brooder are growing fast. I lost a couple in the heat and few didn't successfully hatch.
My sister is going to give me some rabbit hutches she has laying around. I am going to modify them as I want to breed just silver to silver to see what happens.
I have a large bird cage as well.
I was wondering can I seperate males and females. Just have females together and just have males or will the males kill each other?
Anyways will take some photos, when the babies are up and about out of their nest.

Take Care
Martha

 

[xxSonja]

martha,
great minds think alike! Ive been looking for another silver so i can pair them up too!

I've heard of people keeping 'bachelor' pens for a group of only males, and thats what i was planning on doing instead of just getting rid of my extra males.. maybe post it as a thread question and see how it works out for others?

 

[smallbluejellybean]

Sonja will do!!!
Want to see what silver to silver will do to increase, silver production. I know of local aviary's crying out for the silvers and even the whites.
I want to start to concentrate on getting more colours out there. I am going to keep my wild adults I have at the moment, because so far they have been great breeders.

Yes great minds think alike!

Cheers Martha