Raising Baby Chick-Along

[Cyneswith]

EE Rainbow Dash, who is as fast as her name implies.

Half the new flock. Blue splash Marans, easter egger, buff Brahma, and Blue Splash Marans (I think). I can tell the BSMs apart, but they share the name Twilight/Bob until we can tell which is male and female. The buff Orpingtons' names are also interchangeable because I can't tell them apart (they are the exact same shade, with no darker patches.)

 

[aliciaplus3]

Don't know if this is the right place for this but here is my new brooder

it's an old model but in great shape and runs well

 

[gimmie birdies]

hatched out 5 babies on Nov 26th from the left... splash LO/blue cochin/blue isbar mix, the blue ones are the same, the yellow chick (sans face) is a blue isbar/leghorn.

pic of the mom of all the blue chicks.

 

[gimmie birdies]

Alicia+ I have seen old brooders before, I am glad yours works, I have been afraid to use something like that.

 

[aliciaplus3]

Alicia+ I have seen old brooders before, I am glad yours works, I have been afraid to use something like that.

I set it up several days ahead of time and ran it with a thermometer under it to make sure I wasn't going to cook or freeze anything. When I asked my grandfather about the one they used when he was a boy (he is 83) he said they put sand under it. So that is what I am trying, I figured the sand would help retain the heat without catching fire. So far so good. Ps it probably helps that I know the lady that owned it and know it was well stored

 

[gimmie birdies]

very clever, I was not being "judge-y".

 

[aliciaplus3]

very clever, I was not being "judge-y".

No worries it was something I adressed before I added chicks lol..... I am hoping it will smooth things over with DH as the Littles sometimes get to smelling before time to put them out especially this time of year, so if they get to go out sooner it's a win win

 

[Cyneswith]

Week 1 - had more pasty butt this time (winter temps and extra supplemental heat probably to blame, but I can't bring myself to turn off the space heater until they start feathering out) and one almost-emergency (child stepped on chick, hurt its neck but did not break it, and the chick is 90% recovered), but all 8 are doing well. Wing feathers starting to come in, and that gorgeous red chick is turning black and brown (she's still the friendliest, so she's still a favorite.) We still can't tell the buff orpingtons apart. One blue splash Marans is lighter than the other and developed a blue splotch on its wing. The lavender orpington is still the smallest, but she's just as active as the rest, and definitely holding her own in the pecking order. The Brahmas are already growing faster than the others - the lavender picking on them is just funny (one pecked her when she encroached on its food - she didn't just peck back, but flapped and jumped at her in response. She's about 2/3 the size of the Brahmas.)

 

[WVduckchick]

Week 1 - had more pasty butt this time (winter temps and extra supplemental heat probably to blame, but I can't bring myself to turn off the space heater until they start feathering out) and one almost-emergency (child stepped on chick, hurt its neck but did not break it, and the chick is 90% recovered), but all 8 are doing well. Wing feathers starting to come in, and that gorgeous red chick is turning black and brown (she's still the friendliest, so she's still a favorite.) We still can't tell the buff orpingtons apart. One blue splash Marans is lighter than the other and developed a blue splotch on its wing. The lavender orpington is still the smallest, but she's just as active as the rest, and definitely holding her own in the pecking order. The Brahmas are already growing faster than the others - the lavender picking on them is just funny (one pecked her when she encroached on its food - she didn't just peck back, but flapped and jumped at her in response. She's about 2/3 the size of the Brahmas.)

Hope the little injured one heals well

Where'd you get them, if you don't mind saying? Never seen "blue splash" referred to with both words. Chocolate splash yes, but blue splash has always just been "splash". Maybe since chocolates are so much more popular now, we are qualifying blue splash?

 

[Cyneswith]

Hope the little injured one heals well

Where'd you get them, if you don't mind saying? Never seen "blue splash" referred to with both words. Chocolate splash yes, but blue splash has always just been "splash". Maybe since chocolates are so much more popular now, we are qualifying blue splash?

It is recovering well.

I don't know why My Pet Chicken sells them as Blue Splash Marans - struck me as weird too.