Nankin Bantams

[MROO]

View attachment 1775809 View attachment 1775808 Here are a couple pictures of the five Nankin chicks I currently have in the brooder.

I still have one chick in the incubator, along with 5 unhatched eggs.

I think the five are near the point where I can place their food in the feeder. Right now I have been sprinkling food on the paper towels to “bribe” them to make periodic trips from under the Premiere Heat Plate.

~BT

LOVE 'EM! My egglets go into lockdown late tomorrow night/Friday morning. Hopefully we'll have chicks over the weekend ...
It's just in time, too. I need the boost of new babies. We lost my pet OEGB today. DD learned a very valuable lesson in animal husbandry ... unfortunately it was at his (and my) expense. RIP my sweet little Yukon.

 

[cobra3073]

I am really sorry to read of the loss of Yukon. They REALLY do “grow on us!” Hopefully y’all will have a very successful hatch this weekend which might lessen some of the distress.

I have placed the sixth chick in the brooder as it was freaking out when the seventh was hatched. He was stepping all over it trying to get away from that “naked looking being.”

The First Lady insisted on the move, so it was done. The 7th hatchling is now “fluffing” up in the incubator. Since this is the 21st day, I am hoping the last four eggs “do something” over the next day or so. At any rate, I am actually quite happy with my 1st incubation effort!

~BT

 

[MROO]

I am really sorry to read of the loss of Yukon. They REALLY do “grow on us!” Hopefully y’all will have a very successful hatch this weekend which might lessen some of the distress.

I have placed the sixth chick in the brooder as it was freaking out when the seventh was hatched. He was stepping all over it trying to get away from that “naked looking being.”

The First Lady insisted on the move, so it was done. The 7th hatchling is now “fluffing” up in the incubator. Since this is the 21st day, I am hoping the last four eggs “do something” over the next day or so. At any rate, I am actually quite happy with my 1st incubation effort!

~BT

That's really super! Don't be surprised if the two eggs you added late take a few more days. They had different temperatures for the first week and then the transition to the 'bator. And just think, now you get to look forward to next week and a broody hatch!

So far, so good with Miss Piggy. We'll be moving her to a broody cage, probably some time this weekend. Losing my little Red Pyle roo really messed up the coop assignments. Herman (our blue slash Silkie) has temporarily returned to House Rooster status, which puts my broody cage out of commission until DD can get the run he shared with Yukon thoroughly cleaned out and DRY - which was apparently the problem behind losing my beautiful boy! I learned a lesson, too. Don't take DD's word for the level of care she's giving. Check. Often.

Poor Herman is a mess. He's tattered and lonesome - and now he's beaten up. I tried to put him back in with the other bachelors. I really thought he'd be okay, because they've shared a wire wall for months, but the Nanny Boys were NOT having it! They beat on him immediately, and so hard that he ran to the corner and hid his head where they couldn't get to it. I had to literally dig him out from under a pile of Nankin roosters.

As soon as this cold snap breaks, Herman will get a bath and a blow dry, then we can put him back in his CLEAN and DRY run again. I think I'll put my two Kindergarten dropouts in with him. They're big enough to go outside, now, so he'll have company and I can have the brooder back in time to disinfect it for the new babies we will hopefully have, this weekend. I just have to figure out where to put Pippin, my seven week old Nankin. I'm still not positive he's a he. He acts like a fella, but looks like a pullet. Another week should show his pink-or-blue for sure. To be honest, I'm thinkin' he's a "he," but I don't want to admit it, so I'm finding reasons to doubt. {{sigh}}

Okay - It's WAY past bedtime, so I'm off. Keep us all posted!

 

[cobra3073]

Well, we successfully moved hatched chick number 7 into the brooder on yesterday and s/he was well received by the siblings. Unfortunately, I found a deceased chick this morning in the brooder; it appears that when we changed the litter (kitchen paper towels -Bounty) last night we inadvertently placed one “leg” of the Premiere Heat Plate on top of it and did not notice as the chicks were all scurrying around at the time.

I still have six chicks left in the brooder and they appear to be adapting fine. I tell you, those babies are QUICK! Whenever, I come near the brooder, they all rush to hide under the brooder plate. While I don’t want to handle them too much yet (they are so small and fragile), I do want to get them socialized as soon as possible.

I candled the last 4 eggs (the ones in the incubator) last night and 3 of them appear to be viable. One has apparently stopped development. I had written an identifying number on each egg and two of the unhatched eggs are in fact the ones that were removed from the hen when I put a new clutch under her. Those two eggs appear to be “good.” So Dawn, you are probably correct regarding the different temperatures impacting the hatch dates.

Dawn, did you candle prior to going into lockdown? If so, how did the eggs look? I am truly hoping Piggy has a successful hatch and that she don’t attack the hatchlings.

I will also be closely monitoring my two potential Moms as they get closer to their hatch day of May 24th. I am somewhat concerned they, too, may possibly attack their hatchlings.

If these hatches survive over the next couple of weeks, I probably won’t incubate any more eggs until next Spring. I am trying not to get overwhelmed with “chicken math.”

~BT

 

[MROO]

Well, we successfully moved hatched chick number 7 into the brooder on yesterday and s/he was well received by the siblings. Unfortunately, I found a deceased chick this morning in the brooder; it appears that when we changed the litter (kitchen paper towels -Bounty) last night we inadvertently placed one “leg” of the Premiere Heat Plate on top of it and did not notice as the chicks were all scurrying around at the time.

I still have six chicks left in the brooder and they appear to be adapting fine. I tell you, those babies are QUICK! Whenever, I come near the brooder, they all rush to hide under the brooder plate. While I don’t want to handle them too much yet (they are so small and fragile), I do want to get them socialized as soon as possible.

I candled the last 4 eggs (the ones in the incubator) last night and 3 of them appear to be viable. One has apparently stopped development. I had written an identifying number on each egg and two of the unhatched eggs are in fact the ones that were removed from the hen when I put a new clutch under her. Those two eggs appear to be “good.” So Dawn, you are probably correct regarding the different temperatures impacting the hatch dates.

Dawn, did you candle prior to going into lockdown? If so, how did the eggs look? I am truly hoping Piggy has a successful hatch and that she don’t attack the hatchlings.

I will also be closely monitoring my two potential Moms as they get closer to their hatch day of May 24th. I am somewhat concerned they, too, may possibly attack their hatchlings.

If these hatches survive over the next couple of weeks, I probably won’t incubate any more eggs until next Spring. I am trying not to get overwhelmed with “chicken math.”

~BT

I'm so sorry about the lost chick! Accidents happen, so don't beat yourself up over it. My sister and her boys - dairy farmers - have a mantra they repeat when they have a particularly hard loss. "When you have livestock, you sometimes have dead-stock." I used to get really upset whenever they said that. Now I understand.

I did candle, and we have five that looked good, two that were borderline, and the two that I still think may be quitters. I let 'em all ride!

Piggy is still setting - and that's a good sign. I haven't been able to count how many eggs she's sitting on, so I can only assume it's still seven. I wouldn't worry too much about your mamas beating up on babies. Nankins are generally really good mothers. Piggy, unfortunately, has proven to be the exception to pretty much anything I've ever learned about the breed. She is extremely well-named!

Evie has only one chick left, but it seems perky and healthy ... and very tiny, which is what my line needs. So far, s/he looks pullet-ish, but it's only three weeks old. I know it's too early to tell for sure, but I've got my fingers crossed.

And no more hatching until next Spring? Where's you sense of adventure?!

 

[cobra3073]

I should have said “ I don't plan on incubating until next spring”! LOL

We went to bed last night with six apparently live healthy Nankins chucks in the brooder but awaken this morning to find another deceased chick. Both deceased chicks were found near the rear of the heat plate, with no apparent injuries.

The First Lady and I are of the opinion the darkness may be confusing them as there is no light at night and once they wander from under the low end of the heat plate they are getting confused and getting trapped at the back of the heating plate...just a thought.

At any rate, I purchased a flexible pole lamp today to give them a bit of light at night to see if that resolves the problem,

Having stated the above, I may decide to put another dozen in the incubator.

I am looking forward to reading the results of your hatching efforts, Dawn!

~BT

 

[MROO]

I should have said “ I don't plan on incubating until next spring”! LOL

We went to bed last night with six apparently live healthy Nankins chucks in the brooder but awaken this morning to find another deceased chick. Both deceased chicks were found near the rear of the heat plate, with no apparent injuries.

The First Lady and I are of the opinion the darkness may be confusing them as there is no light at night and once they wander from under the low end of the heat plate they are getting confused and getting trapped at the back of the heating plate...just a thought.

At any rate, I purchased a flexible pole lamp today to give them a bit of light at night to see if that resolves the problem,

Having stated the above, I may decide to put another dozen in the incubator.

I am looking forward to reading the results of your hatching efforts, Dawn!

~BT

 

[MROO]

I'm so sorry about the latest casualty. It's so hard to lose little babies! We lost two of Evie's three, this time. They both went very early, like your little one, did. Chicks are so fragile. For critters that are only a half-step above grass on the food chain, the attrition rate is naturally pretty high. I'm convinced that's a big reason for hens hatching out so many at once.

 

[MROO]

WE HAZ BABEEZ! I came downstairs this morning to four tiny peepers in various stages of "fluffing." Even if the other three eggs don't make it, I'm happy with four. I don't care how many times it happens ... it just NEVER gets old!
Piggy abandoned her eggs, yesterday. We'll candle them in a bit to see if there's any hope left. If there is, I guess we're leaving the 'bator running for another week or so ...

UPDATE: We have FIVE!

 

[cobra3073]

WE HAZ BABEEZ! I came downstairs this morning to four tiny peepers in various stages of "fluffing." Even if the other three eggs don't make it, I'm happy with four. I don't care how many times it happens ... it just NEVER gets old!
Piggy abandoned her eggs, yesterday. We'll candle them in a bit to see if there's any hope left. If there is, I guess we're leaving the 'bator running for another week or so ...

UPDATE: We have FIVE!

WE HAZ BABEEZ! I came downstairs this morning to four tiny peepers in various stages of "fluffing." Even if the other three eggs don't make it, I'm happy with four. I don't care how many times it happens ... it just NEVER gets old!
Piggy abandoned her eggs, yesterday. We'll candle them in a bit to see if there's any hope left. If there is, I guess we're leaving the 'bator running for another week or so ...

UPDATE: We have FIVE!

OUTSTANDING!!

For some reason, I did not get an "alert" on this thread and YES, I share in your sentiments relative to the the hatching of the eggs.

I was sorry to read Miss Piggy had abandoned the nest. My two hens (sitting on a total of eleven {11} eggs) are still hanging in there. As near as I can figure they both should reach the 21 day mark on or about May 24, 2019.

As to my first incubation effort, I ended up with 7 hatched. The last two came a day and a half after the first five. I lost 1 each on Thursday and Friday night. I thought I was "out of the woods" but a storm came through on Sunday morning and took down a tree in a neighbors yard which took out electrical and cable lines for over 500 subscribers in the neighborhood.

Without power my brooder was useless for keeping the chicks warm. The power was out for @ 8 hours and doing that time one of the chicks apparently got "chilled" (for lack of a better explanation) and had a pasty butt. I found it prostrate and apparently near death. I took action to try and revive it by running lukewarm water over its rear and gently cleaning it with a Q-tip. I then placed it back into the incubator to see if it might recover. Quite frankly, I did not expect it to survive as it was very weak and showing very little signs of life. I left it in the incubator for several hours but when I checked early On Monday morning, I found it back on its feet, albeit still weak. After s/he regained it strength, I placed it back in the brooder as sh/he was "crying" for its peer's company.

All appeared to be well as s/he was eating, drinking and interacting well with its peers. This evening (Tuesday), around 5 PM, I notice s/he was acting a bit sluggish so I removed it and took a closer look and found "pasty butt" again. I repeated the fore mentioned procedures, to include placing it back in the incubator to dry off...hoping for the best!

The last four are looking good and actually trying to fly out of the brooder, so I am keeping the top on it when I am not present.

I did modify the spare dog kennel I have for the possibility of housing one of the setting hens and her chicks. I decided just to get another kennel (if needed) or some other cage type structure for the other hen and chicks, if needed.

...more to come, I am sure!

~BT