Pink Bike Helmet Babies

[Chambertin]

My little girl just keeps getting better, how about yours?
Runt catching up?

 

[Crafty chick]

Oh yeah, can't even tell which one was the runt! They are starting to get feathers, sleep a lot!

 

[Chambertin]

My bator girl meeting her broody sisters.

 

[Crafty chick]

Oh, too cute!

 

[sissyrme]

Check eggs on the 8th day for better readings!

 

[sissyrme]

It is not a runt...just last one out. Give it a week and it should be the same size as the rest!

 

[sissyrme]

I keep new borns on heat mat covered with 2 pieces of newsprint...60w bulb for heat. Too much heat can cause them to dehydrate. Also I put that rubbery mat shelf liner (for cupboard lining) under them, over newsprint... I get at dollar shops...cheap for large roll. I cut a 12" section and use this for the first week to keep chicks from getting splay legged from slipping on newspaper. You can wash and reuse many times. I have several cut and exchange them daily. First two days I sprinkle feed on them, then 3rd day they have to eat from feeder...they always do. Using this method I have never lost a chick!

 

[Chambertin]

I really like washable and re-usable liners for the first couple weeks, maybe even longer depending on the number of chicks.
We had so many small batches that these re-usable things were perfect. Bedding doesn't cost much but its such a mess when compared to using a few old towels or whatever you have around the house.

We always keep a few waterers around the lamp in addition to the normal one near the food.
With a broody never have to worry about that, but they have yet to engineer that silky with a broody switch.

 

[sissyrme]

My last hatch I had 19 chicks born on the 8th of September...here is my brooder my husband built me...it is brilliant! I wait till chicks are dried in incubator before moving...this has screen top on hinges that opens from the top which I keep a towel over to hold warmth in...very simple and easy to clean. I can also place a slip-in board down the middle for smaller batches or for the first few days to get them into the routine of eating from dish to feeder...then I remove the board to give them more room to wander. My chicks are purebred Light Sussex which I believe is a brilliant chicken! I get double yolkers from some of my hens which is always a treat!

 

[Chambertin]

Very cool, he did a good job.
Where you from Australia?