Tips for newbies. Everyone join in! :)

[Irishgirl]

Hi people!
So, I was thinking, when I started raising poultry I had no clue what I was doing, so I thought it would be nice if we could put together kind of a "This is how you could do it, but this way is easier.

(1) Always wash your hands before handling fertile eggs that you want to hatch. This can get kind of tiresome, but it's well worth the effort.


If anyone has any chicken care tips please share them!

 

[silkielover2444]

I recently got chicks and they are now 8 weeks old. I love your chicks, they are so cute! I might be getting a silkie soon!!

At tractor supplies they are selling some chicks so when they get a silkie they'll give me a call!

 

[silkielover2444]

Some advice is: hold a chicken different ways to find out their position they like

 

[Cinnylove]

my advice: never give up...give the egg in ? some time and DON'T "help" it hatch...watch another one of God's amazing animal miracles!!! happy hatching!

 

[Irishgirl]

my advice: never give up...give the egg in ? some time and DON'T "help" it hatch...watch another one of God's amazing animal miracles!!! happy hatching!

Well said Cinny, I've accidentally killed hatchlings before while thinking I was helping them.

 

[Irishgirl]

To help keep water clean and prevent coccsidiosis, add 1/8th of a teaspoon of bleach per quart to your chicken's water.

 

[silkielover2444]

I've never hatched eggs. I'd like to try it when my chicks start to lay eggs. We have an australorp and people say they are broody so I would love to buy some fertilized eggs for her to adopt.

 

[Cinnylove]

my austrolorps do wonderful..one hen got broody and i left her sit..i decided not to bother her at all and finally on day 21 i moved her to look..OF COURSE i was curious, right?!?! WELL, someone else was laying on her nest while she got up to eat so she was sitting on 18!!!!! Yes, 18, so i broke them cause there was way too many to keep warm..sadly there was 2 nice sized peeps in 2 eggs :,( SAD! So make sure they dont have more then 8-10 eggs at a time so they can all stay warm good luck!!

 

[Irishgirl]

If you have a chick push out before the yolk internalizes, don't panic. Take the chick and carefully set it back in the eggshell, wrap the shell in wet, warm paper towels, and prop it up in the corner of the 'bator 'till the yolk finishes internalizing.

 

[PrairieRidge]

I just started a new thread asking for expert advice and then found your threat, thanks!