New to chickens and haven't a clue!!

[fldiver97]

Wow, you did a great job so far and hopefully your efforts will be rewarded by another couple (or more healthy chicks) hatching!!!!! Nice coop too! Keep us posted and congrats on the babies that hatched

 

[tinychicky]

just don't touch them before they dry

they won't need food for the first day, but after that they're sure to be hungry and thirsty! make sure the waterer is shallow enough that they can't drown in it, and check all the chicks to make sure they are correctly functioning. when they reach their 8th or 9th week of life, they can go outside (if it's not too cold out). the roosters crow around then. the hens will start laying at 20-24 weeks of age, and thats when they should be ready to switch from starter mash to layer pellets. if you want more detailed info, purchase or borrow the book Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens or even Chickens: a Kid's Guide to Raising and Showing. both have good information for first time chicken people

i hope this helps, and

 

[BrownEggFan]

Tracy, sounds like you are doing everything right, even if it is non-orthodox! Congratulations on your chicks and good luck with the remaining eggs.

Oh, by the way...

 

[MiniBeesKnees]

What an incredible job!

I'll just add one bit...I put mine out a lot sooner than seven or eight weeks. Actually three born this morning are on my porch which is 80% enclosed...they are in a tub on shavings with a heat lamp. I have six D'Uccle chicks that have been living in an outside pen (by themselves) since they were two and a half weeks old...without a lamp. But they feathered in really fast and it has been very hot, even at night.

 

[tracyrene]

#4 hatched last night. Yesterday morning it pipped, but it was a bloody pip. The little T shaped crack was red. I could hear it peeping, I decided to chip away the pip to see if I could expose the beak. I lost a little more shell than I wanted to. There was some blood, I took the egg and wrapped toilet paper around the egg leaving the beak exposed. I sprayed the t.p. with warm water and it formed kindof an extra shell. I sprayed the warm water every hour from 6am till 9pm. I could see red veins, but by 9pm they were not red anymore, they were white. I had her unwrapped at that point and stayed with her for 2 hours and she made it out. There was a tiny bit of blood. Then I saw, as she was dragging the bottom shell around, there was a small hole in her tummy where the umbilical cord was still attached. I gently broke off some of the shell as I was afraid of it getting caught on something a ripping. This morning the hole is closed and she looks good. Smaller than the others were at hatching, but she still looks good! Hopefully she continues to do well! 4 out of 7 eggs made it in my bathroom incubator! The other 3 eggs stopped moving. I gently cracked the tops and could see chicks fully formed but dead. Anyway, I incubated #4 for 19 days! I love her! Pics to come!

 

[tracyrene]

Toilet Papered Chick!

 

[clothdiaperingmom]

Thats just awesome. Strangest, drawn out hatch Ive ever heard about, but cool !!!!

Good for you for not giving up on the late hatchers!!!
How are the others doing?

 

[tracyrene]

#4 Chick.....and last one!

 

[chica57]

WOW!!! I'd be no help so impressed with what you did!! I got first ones 2yrs ago and this year added 11 more--very addicting and a good thing you found this forum-everyones wonderful!!!! Just wanted to say Great Job !!! Nice Coop !!!! You'll be busy but itswell worth it!!!!