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

[foxvalleyfarm]

I'm glad that you still have a few strong little chickies! Fingers crossed for a great hatch

Thank you

 

[michaelf]

Got all my paper work for NPIP .. All negative agian !!!!! Not that I was worried, I work hard to keep a healthy and clean flock. Teaching my boys how to do it also!

 

[mlm Mike]

Got all my paper work for NPIP .. All negative agian !!!!! Not that I was worried, I work hard to keep a healthy and clean flock. Teaching my boys how to do it also!

Wonderful! Congratulations!

 

[coopsbyty]

Last year we had some dumb dumb drop a litter of kittens 5 of them on the side of the road just down the way from us. They were less than 10 days old, about when their eyes start to open. Two of the poor things got run over , a lady who lives down the way took two (she did not want them all but would not let me take them all, she actually found them) and I got the last one. Tractor supply and most other places sell baby animal feeding kits, they come with a bottle, two nipples and a bottle cleaning brush. They also sell powdered or liquid kitten formula. I had a hard time the first few days getting kitty to potty, he would pee but no poop. I took him to the vet to make sure he was healthy and ok, they said he was but had probably been malnourished since birth. After a few days he started doing everything he needed and turned out to be a super cat. He now lives with a family who got chicks from me and they say he is the sweetest cat ever.

Anyway the point to my story is you can buy everything you need at most farm type stores for sure. Just remember that much like chicks sometimes you can not save them all. Do your best and enjoy the experience.

 

[coopsbyty]

Got all my paper work for NPIP .. All negative agian !!!!! Not that I was worried, I work hard to keep a healthy and clean flock. Teaching my boys how to do it also!

Congrats!!

 

[Book]

Down to 4 eggs

BUT Guess what my amazing husband did to cheer me and the kids up?

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

[COLOR=0000FF] Down to 4 eggs    [/COLOR]

[COLOR=EE82EE] BUT Guess what my amazing husband did to cheer me and the kids up? [/COLOR]

Sorry to heart that.

What?

 

[gryeyes]

in my twenties, the three local, municipal Animal Control officers knew I would foster newborn kittens - they would have the contract bet hospitals call me (or they would bring abandoned litters TO me at work in the 9-1-1 Center). I raised more than 70 kittens and lost only three.

Finding homes for them was a trial after all my co-workers, officers and their spouses had been gifted with weaned, hand-raised kittens.

I would keep them in a box under my console. I worked the midnight shift so it was easier to manage the every- two- hours feeding and potty sessions. Q-tips and warm, wet washcloths were essential in stimulating excretions. If they got constipated, I learned how to give kitten enemas. You must be Oh! so careful doing that. Luckily I only had to do it a few times.

Esbilac with a touch of Karo syrup for their formula. (Esbilac was puppy formula and cats need more calories.) Bought it in powder form and made it up as I needed it. Little nursing bottles with a variety of rubber nipples with different hole sizes I cut myself.

It is best to feed them holding them slightly upright but more on their tummies. If they are fed while straight vertical, or on their backs, they can suck liquid into their lungs and develop inhalation pneumonia.

When they scrabble with their front paws to bring the bottle closer, my heart would just melt. Especially once their eyes were open .

 

[Book]

Question: Is there a way to provide heat to chicks without needing a heat lamp?

 

[foxvalleyfarm]

 Question: Is there a way to provide heat to chicks without needing a heat lamp? 

I'm using a heating pass that stays on for Luke the duck and the next several to hatch