Unexpected hatching - help!

[cmom]

I'm old. I'm easily distracted. I'm forgetful. Sometimes, I'm simply unable to stay awake any longer as we, both the unborn chick and I, have been awake ALL day and night trying to get the little one hatched. Those long hours aren't good for the old ticker when you get to be my age.
The touch of oil trick has been a life saver (for the chick), and sanity saver for me. The oil makes the membrane completely see-through, helping me determine both the condition of the chick AND how rapidly (or not) that the veins are thinning out. It helps me make critical decisions on how to proceed should the hatching continue to be fraught with misadventure.

I have the same symptoms, I'm pretty old, in my 70's and sometimes forgetful, easily distracted and usually fall asleep pretty early. So much for the golden years. Aren't these supposed to be the golden years? I still function ok even with the aches and pains. Next time I have a difficult hatch I will try the oil. Every year I say I'm going to hatch fewer chicks and I still hatch out way more than planned. I know my days are numbered and I think now and then that I should cut down on my flock size so I don't leave a lot of birds for someone else to have to deal with. I am taking a few birds to a swap twice a month to sell. I'm still looking at the birds for who will be my breeders after the first of the year.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I know my days are numbered and I think now and then that I should cut down on my flock size so I don't leave a lot of birds for someone else to have to deal with.

I have made arrangements with neighbors as to who inherits the chickens and who inherits the quail. I've been hard pressed to find future homes for my two, very elderly dogs; one being a tripod with internal organ issues due to a vehicular accident she had before I adopted her. The veterinarian estimated her age at two years when she moved into my home, she's lived with me for 14 years, so she's in the neighborhood of 16 years old. Her companion was gifted to me when he was a year old, and he's about a year younger than the other; making him about 15 years old. Sadly, people want puppies, healthy puppies; not what they perceive as washed up, spent dogs. In my never too humble opinion, my dogs are much more fun than wiggling bundles of shoe-chewing, oopsy poopsy and weepy peepee leaving, and possibly dangerous to me (and my health) rambunctious bundles of puppy.

 

[Kiki]

I have made arrangements with neighbors as to who inherits the chickens and who inherits the quail. I've been hard pressed to find future homes for my two, very elderly dogs; one being a tripod with internal organ issues due to a vehicular accident she had before I adopted her. The veterinarian estimated her age at two years when she moved into my home, she's lived with me for 14 years, so she's in the neighborhood of 16 years old. Her companion was gifted to me when he was a year old, and he's about a year younger than the other; making him about 15 years old. Sadly, people want puppies, healthy puppies; not what they perceive as washed up, spent dogs. In my never too humble opinion, my dogs are much more fun than wiggling bundles of shoe-chewing, oopsy poopsy and weepy peepee leaving, and possibly dangerous to me (and my health) rambunctious bundles of puppy.

I'll take your dogs.

 

[ValerieJ]

I'll take your dogs.

That is so sweet. I think OP is in Panama. Can they be shipped via airlines?

 

[Ebony Rose]

I'm not OP, but I am in Panama. I'm afraid the cost to ship them out of the country would be prohibitive, especially since I cannot have the girl dog vaccinated (again) as each time she's been vaccinated in the past has brought on ever more severe seizures. Seriously thought that I was going to lose her the third year she was vaccinated; she had random seizures that diminished in intensity for about seven or eight months afterward, but the first two were grand mal intensity. She's exempt from having this done annually now, but it took some serious doing to get that exemption.

 

[ValerieJ]

I'm not OP, but I am in Panama. I'm afraid the cost to ship them out of the country would be prohibitive, especially since I cannot have the girl dog vaccinated (again) as each time she's been vaccinated in the past has brought on ever more severe seizures. Seriously thought that I was going to lose her the third year she was vaccinated; she had random seizures that diminished in intensity for about seven or eight months afterward, but the first two were grand mal intensity. She's exempt from having this done annually now, but it took some serious doing to get that exemption.

LOL I forgot this was someone else’s thread.

 

[ValerieJ]

Any pics yet?

 

[cmom]

My age is showing, I got sidetracked too. I have a younger sister in her mid sixties. She got a couple of puppies. One is a Lab mix and the other is a Great Dane. She wanted two so they would keep each other company. Her dogs are usually into something. Recently her Dane had to have a rag it ate, surgically removed. Her dogs are her children. I tried to get her interested in chickens but she loves dogs. I would never get any puppies because they would probably outlive me and I have way too many chickens. After the holidays I will be setting up my breeding pens and picking out my breeders, then let the hatching begin... I promise to cut down this year...

 

[Theblackpukeko]

There she is! We named her Tahi: The Firstborn. She's been here for 24 hours now and we're in the middle of setting up the brooder. Seems to be getting hungry slowly, she started picking at my fingers already. And she slept in my cupped hands just earlier. She even got my stern, unemotional flatmate wrapped around her claws, everyone loves her. We got some chicken mash that I'll mix with warm water and then feed her later. Does anyone know when I can start feeding her other food? For example, bread and vegetables and such? Based on chickens of course.

I'll take more pictures during the next days

 

[TexasTurkeyMama]

Well, that was an adventure!