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

[Quailsong]

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.

 

[Cynthia12]

Quailsong, they are darling! The look so alert and healthy!

 

[Quailsong]

I was so far behind (over 300 posts) I just had to skip ahead and jump back in, I hope I didn't miss anything... I will go read the daily digest to be sure!

I candled yesterday and pulled 14 clear eggs. Oddly, 10 of them came from the same hen. I remember her eggs not hatching last year too. Could she be sterile? The eggs show as being fertilized. The other strange thing about her is that she still peeps like a chick, but is going on 2 years old. Has anyone ever had that before? I won't be setting her eggs again, but I thought I would share the oddity.

I think I have a girl just like that. The past two batches half my eggs were clear. I marked every one I gathered to the hour & the same shape'd ones (longish) never even started growing. I'm thinking at this point she's evading the roo & possibly rejecting his sperm? /ponder

 

[Quailsong]

Quailsong, they are darling! The look so alert and healthy!

Thanks! These are the ones I was talking with Sally Sunshine about earlier today. They were just sitting there all day doing nothing & then sure enough, within an hour of me 'complaining' on the forums they turned into little rascals. Chirping & running up a storm. Just my luck!

But then they posed pretty for the camera, so I think it's a fair trade.

 

[winteree]

OMG they are so cute !!!

 

[Reyvaughn]

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.

 

[misbhaven]

4X the poop and 10X the stink.

that is why I basically keep them in a run...with a tarp that covers the back and top. They sleep in the xtra large dogloo..when I am done raising them just tillin the poop. They are 7 weeks now I am going to give them at least 2 more weeks. But I have a faimly of 7 I need bid chickens...8 meaties and 3 pekin ducks get 3 9x13. Cake pans of food a day..crumbles and fermented feed.. they are big going to catch one of the largest in the am put in a pillow case and use a fish scale.

 

[Cynthia12]

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 she really wants them somewhere private, sounds like you tired giving her that private area. Sounds like she didn't like that place. She is acting different for sure. Sorry that little orange one died. The others look pretty plump. Is there a room where no one goes? Man, just don't know what to tell you. You can help them go potty..very important they keep going. Are you home a lot? You may have to hold her down to help them get food. Or, you can supplement them with kitten milk..what ever they use today. Back in my day, we had to make it. Vets have stuff now.

 

[Cynthia12]

GOOD NIGHT ~

 

[winteree]

am sorry but i would intervene before you lose any more kittens. kittens that young can't pee or poo on their own the mother cat is suppose to stimulate them to do the fact that they are having urine leaks could mean that their little bladders are over full which can kill them in a matter of days. And the runt should have been bottle nursed in conjunction with nursing with mom if mom was letting it nurse at all. Of course i have to say out of all the kittens i have seen born and cared for that mom isn't doing her job your going to have to help her out she's clearly inexperienced. I have owned and raised about a stupid number of cats i have an idea of what i'm talking about