Please talk me out of buying more chicks

[Redhead Rae]

Just candled the eggs again and all 10 are still developing and wiggling! Hopefully we'll have some fresh hatched babies by Saturday or Sunday!

 

[17 chickens]

How exciting..... New babies are so wonderful, be sure to show us pictures!

 

[Redhead Rae]

We have babies!!! Five already. 3 already fluffed out, two just hatched under Mama. Several more of the eggs have pips in them already. At 10:30 this morning we had two eggs with definite pips and I checked a little before 3 and I saw these three fuzzies! I picked up mama and saw one fresh hatched and another pushing out of its shell. Of the fuzzies, one is clearly a male and 2 are female (sex links are fun!!!) They seem to all have fuzzy feet like their dad, but I don't think they will be as feathered because he had more feathering of the feet as a chick. Eeee! So happy to have new babies!

 

[Redhead Rae]

All 10 eggs have hatched!

 

[Redhead Rae]

All 10 eggs have hatched!

 

[pennyJo1960]

9 marans hatchery chicks 3 days ago now 4 polish only 4 left for marans trying to round out a coop that will hold 15

 

[17 chickens]

so cute!!! Congrats Chicken mommy!!!!

 

[Redhead Rae]

Mama and babies are all out and about today. She is being such a good mama, showing them what to eat and drink and how to scratch. I think there are 5 pullets and 5 cockerels one "pullet" is questionable, her fluff is more dark grey than black and she looks like she has a few lighter wisps of fuzz on her head, but not a true dot.

I like this pic because you can see Mama showing all 10 babies how to scratch and peck.

 

[pennyJo1960]

@raecarrow what a heck of idea putting a ramp for babies I use the same tubs cut front off but easier for babes to get in with Mom again

 

[Redhead Rae]

@raecarrow what a heck of idea putting a ramp for babies I use the same tubs cut front off but easier for babes to get in with Mom again

It's a door too. We shut them in at night. We built two wooden frames slightly smaller than the hole in the tote, attached the ramp/door with a hinge, added tread bars and a hasp and put the frame with the door on the outside and screwed it to the other frame on the inside of the tote sandwiching the wall of the tote between the frames. We also put air holes in the side.