The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[PAchickenlover]

The orange (runt) died today. I figured he would. She left them most of the night and he was obviously starved. He was really vocal today. I tried getting him to nurse, but again, she left them before he had a chance. As you can see, she isn't taking care of their feces and urine. I had to change everything today. She tried moving them to a place she was not allowed to have them due to health reasons (for the kittens) so I put them back in the kitty bed and put them under a dresser for privacy. She moved them back to the bed where she buried 4 of them in the OH's blanket. There were pee spots all over the place. What is wrong with her? I have NEVER had a mother cat be so dumb! I'll be surprised if any of them make it the way she's going.

Sounds like a first time mom to me. I think it would be best for the kittens if you took over most of moms duties or find someone who can. I know it is a lot of work. I have bottle fed more kittens than I can count. Hope you can come up with a solution and soon.. : /

 

[PAchickenlover]

So does anyone know what is going to happen to computers running Windows XP?

 best case scenario - nothing

worst case scenario - a security floor gets discovered, you get hacked and someone steals your identity

Yeah hope the worst case scenario doesn't happen...

 

[ozexpat]

Yeah hope the worst case scenario doesn't happen...

they can have my identity

they will be in for a lot of pain

 

[PAchickenlover]

Yeah hope the worst case scenario doesn't happen...

they can have my identity

they will be in for a lot of pain

Won't get much from us either... our credit is shot... lol and we have NO credit cards, never have, never will. If we don't have the money in the bank then we can't buy it! I don't believe in spending money you don't have in savings or in the bank.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Finally got the chicks from my last 2 hatches out of the house! I went out and started screwing boards to the floor in the wood shed to cover all the holes and rotten boards, because my husband just wasn't getting it done. He comes home and sees what I've done and asks me how long it will take me to remove everything.... Thankfully I only put a few screws in each board. He then went and grabbed some stuff and helped me fix up the shed properly.

So I've found the secret to getting stuff done is to start doing it myself and my husband will come along and finish/fix it because I have 0 carpentry skills.

At least now I'm ready for my batch hatching now and my hatch-a-long chicks next week.

At least it's getting done!

Okay I know it was posted on here before, but I can't find it. What is the best thermometer/hydrometer to use and where can I buy it. I really need something better than the ones I bought at walmart.

I like the Brinsea spot check thermometer, you need to order it online. For hygrometers, I just buy the ones at the pet store in the reptile section.

I am so far behind!!!

After smashing my finger in the hatch of my work vehicle yesterday (breaking it and slicing it), my 16 month old sick with Croup and getting rear-ended today (in that same work vehicle) I am wayyyyy far behind(and ready for the weekend)!! Thank goodness for Rons digest!! IS IT FRIDAY YET!? HAHAHAHA!! Random thought... since I had eggs hatching last weekend I didn't want to risk anything with candling... so I am soooo waiting for saturday (Day 14) so I can candle my eggies and see how they are doing!!! GO EGGIES GO!!!

Have a good night everyone!!!

Ouch! You've certainly have had a rough day! I hope today is better!

Quote: I agree, that one has a chick!

Quote: I would say 5 times the poop. I don't notice much stink with mine, but it certainly keeps you busy cleaning up after them. They are little furnaces too, had to take them off heat at 3 weeks because they were causing condensation on the roof of my brooder coop. Mine are 6 weeks old today, and they drink about 3 gallons of water a day and have gone through almost 200 lbs of feed. I'm finishing off the 4th bag now.

Thank you! There is no way I can read all of the posts since I last popped on! Busy, busy! I haven't been on as much since my chicken bators aren't the only things incubating here right now! I'm expecting my second child and I have been very, very sick.

Congratulations! I'm sorry you are not feeling well.

I was supposed to sell the batch of chicks today that hatched over the weekend, but I've got them another day. So I decided to do an unofficial photo shoot for fun. They are Bantam Silver Laced Wyandottes [BSLW]. Please enjoy the cuteness.

Adorable!

The orange (runt) died today. I figured he would. She left them most of the night and he was obviously starved. He was really vocal today. I tried getting him to nurse, but again, she left them before he had a chance. As you can see, she isn't taking care of their feces and urine. I had to change everything today. She tried moving them to a place she was not allowed to have them due to health reasons (for the kittens) so I put them back in the kitty bed and put them under a dresser for privacy. She moved them back to the bed where she buried 4 of them in the OH's blanket. There were pee spots all over the place. What is wrong with her? I have NEVER had a mother cat be so dumb! I'll be surprised if any of them make it the way she's going.

I'm sorry momma cat isn't doing her job well. I've never raised kittens, so I can't help you there.

I'm starting to question my sanity, first time ever setting eggs, so what do I do...... fill the incubator figuring most won't hatch......young hens, young roo....candled all 41 eggs, 1 clear, 2 questionable... 38 look good........

I'm in the same boat. I've only removed 1 bloodring so far.

did someone say pictures

Beautiful children and gorgeous pictures! You look like you guys keep very busy!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

]I moved my broody to her own pen last night (I even transferred the bedding from the old nest), but she wanted none of that! She didn't sleep on the nest and demanded to be let out with everyone else this morning, even though she had food and water in her pen. But after a little bit, she got back on the nest in the main coop and continued her broody behavior. So I guess she is serious! I gave her my only two viable eggs from the incubator! ...and now I'm soooo nervous!

It's hard to give up control.

Oh, and a related question - the other hens are laying their eggs right next to the broody, and she is stealing them. Every morning when she gets up to go eat, I take them away. But are they safe to eat after she's been sitting on them all night?

The eggs will be 'safe'. They'd even safe to eat after a couple weeks, they'd just be real gross.

they can have my identity

they will be in for a lot of pain

X2
Wouldn't they be surprised.

 

[Happy Chooks]

]I moved my broody to her own pen last night (I even transferred the bedding from the old nest), but she wanted none of that! She didn't sleep on the nest and demanded to be let out with everyone else this morning, even though she had food and water in her pen. But after a little bit, she got back on the nest in the main coop and continued her broody behavior. So I guess she is serious! I gave her my only two viable eggs from the incubator! ...and now I'm soooo nervous!

It's hard to give up control.

Oh, and a related question - the other hens are laying their eggs right next to the broody, and she is stealing them. Every morning when she gets up to go eat, I take them away. But are they safe to eat after she's been sitting on them all night?

If they haven't been there long, they are fine to eat. (meaning less than a day)

 

[Marthab1953]

Sounds like a first time mom to me. I think it would be best for the kittens if you took over most of moms duties or find someone who can. I know it is a lot of work. I have bottle fed more kittens than I can count. Hope you can come up with a solution and soon.. : /

I was thinking the same thing first time mom, sometimes they just have not developed the instincts of a mother cat yet, looks like she is trying but maybe she does not have much milk either.

 

[PAchickenlover]

Just took some picture of my kittens to share oh and momma Midnight.

Midnight here, had problems similar to the other cat with her first litter. I ended up bottle feeding them on top of her nursing them. She just wasn't giving them the time they needed to get full. Now she is much better. She knows what to do. Supplement the kittens with formula, can be bought at most pet stores and I think Walmart has it also. If you need any help on how to set up the bottles (nipples have no hole in them, you have to do it) just let me or all of us know. We are here to help.

 

[PAchickenlover]

[COLOR=0000FF]Sounds like a first time mom to me. I think it would be best for the kittens if you took over most of moms duties or find someone who can. I know it is a lot of work. I have bottle fed more kittens than I can count. Hope you can come up with a solution and soon.. : /[/COLOR]

I was thinking the same thing first time mom, sometimes they just have not developed the instincts of a mother cat yet, looks like she is trying but maybe she does not have much milk either.

Yep this is typical first time momma cat problems. All we can do is try to guide her in the direction that is best for the kittens. Maybe a dog crate would be good to put momma in also. One that is large enough for food, water, litter pan, and a box with a hole cut in it so she can " hide the kittens".