Peachick Questions [they hatched this morning]

[WRVgirl]

My 2 baby peachicks hatched this morning. Both seem to be doing well, except they still aren't fluffed up or standing...they hatched in my brinsea and the incubator is not tall enough for them to stand and stretch out....I'm wondering when I should move them to their brooder?

With my chickens, I move them once they start fluffing and they do fine on their own from there.

Any advice would be helpful, I did some research about peafowl and peachicks but of course, I never feel like I'm fully prepared for any of this.

They're going to be raised in the house for a while so is the pine shavings ok for them? Since it's not like they'll be outside for a while. My new mom anxiety is running high already. I want to move them to the brooder box so they can stretch and try to find their footing.

How long until they're up and going?

Thanks!

 

[frenchblackcopper]

Many peas are capable of stumbling around 3-4 hours after hatch. Get your brooder box set up with your digital thermometer probe under the light. Adjust the height of the bulb until it's 95-100 degrees and move your new peas under the light. They are kinda rolley--poley with their fat bottoms caused by the absorbing the yolk but they get dry and watch out. Little steps then stumbled steps then walking as normal in a day or so

 

[zazouse]

Congratulations on your hatch

I have had them take as long as 32 hours to get dry and get their sea legs.

 

[WRVgirl]

Good to know! Thanks everyone.

They are now in the brooder box and they seem content. Little roley poley things that they are right now!
I've hatched tons of chickens, but this is my first peafowl hatch, so I'm thrilled they both hatched out and hopefully they grow big and strong!

I put a drop of green food coloring in the water, I read that it helps them locate the water....I'm hoping that's correct. lol.

They're back there making little chirping noises right now. One is bigger than the other and they still don't have names, so I'm hoping for one male and one female but I'll love them both no matter what.

I'm thinking they are the white variety [the lady I got them from had a bunch of different colors in one pen] They are both cream/white/yellow chicks now...so I'm guess white?

 

[zazouse]

Yea some do hatch out with a heavy bottom, when it gets smaller they are better at moving around.

I have lots a whites here , I did not want any at first but 1 was given to me and I fell in love with them.

 

[frenchblackcopper]

White or Yellow? They could be black shoulder pattern peachicks and when peachicks are first born it takes maybe 4-7 days before you can definately see the color white emerge from the yellow,normally most easily visible on the flight feathers as they grow super fast.If they are yellow now and stay yellow you have b/s chicks that will begin to get lite rust colored flights and then black will start across the back,then into the top half of the wings,kinda a mottled look.

 

[WRVgirl]

Thanks. They are more of a cream color now, not yellow, but under the heat lamp it's hard to tell.

They are both up and moving around, walking and when I went to check on them this morning they were standing in the food bowl.

Very cute. They didn't make a peep all night, but this morning my parrots were very very interested in what is going on across the room from them [the peachicks are covered so they can't escape]

 

[zazouse]

Some scrambled eggs would be real good for them if they are ready to eat, helps get them oriented to food faster IMO. just make sure they are not runny cause they can stop up the nose a bit

 

[zazouse]

Oh and get your ear plugs out at about 2 days mine start peeping non stop every time I pass by them or they hear me and mine are outside in a ground brooder thank god

 

[WRVgirl]

Ha ha ha. I'm ready for the noise. They're so quiet back there and I have the radio on for the parrots so maybe they're just enjoying a little country music at the moment! lol