Unexpected hatching - help!

[biophiliac]

I have a heat bulb that usually works well. Unfortunately, someone must've unplugged it today, because it wasn't working when I found them. The other chicks all cuddle together and keep warm this way but this one was too stupid to cuddle with them. The last time I saved it the heat lamp was working and it was still not cuddling with everyone or under the lamp, but lying somewhere else half dead.

The behavior of this chick, so abnormal and isolating from the others, as well as mobility and feather growth issues makes me think the poor little guy lost the genetic roll of dice and was just not equipped to thrive. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Theblackpukeko]

Thank you everyone for always answering my questions. I feel really supported and since this is my first time having chicks, that's great!

We are taking as many trips to the garden as possible. I keep them inside since it's still pretty cold over here, but I want to get them used to everything as soon as possible.

They're all doting on Tahi, the pukeko. They all flock around her and if she goes somewhere, they follow. Just now I saw them sleeping together and she was intertwined cuddling with them, so cute! She also looks out for them a lot, and I feel like she's kinda trying to be responsible which is adorable. Today, they were startled by something in the garden and now just look at her, I had to take a picture:

But I notice that she is still young herself when I pick her up, she's very cuddly and searches for a lot of contact. She loves to take naps on me or in my jacket. We definitely have a strong bond! I'm starting to bond with the chicks that I rescued as well, even though they started out with a mama hen they're now coming up to my hand while feeding. The remaining two are at the same stages of feather development as the others, just a bit smaller and about 30 grams lighter.

 

[aart]

It's great that the pukeko and little chicks are getting along...I was wondering how that would go.

 

[Theblackpukeko]

Btw, Tahi doesn't have any feather development at all! She's just growing and growing and starting to look fat because she still got those two chicken wings dangling at her side
On her back, the fluff almost looks like fur now, a bit like a worn-out teddy bear!

 

[aart]

Btw, Tahi doesn't have any feather development at all! She's just growing and growing and starting to look fat because she still got those two chicken wings dangling at her side
On her back, the fluff almost looks like fur now, a bit like a worn-out teddy bear!

Wonder if that's 'normal' for a pukeko?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Wonder if that's 'normal' for a pukeko?

I wondered the same.

 

[Kiwibird]

Wonder if that's 'normal' for a pukeko?

Yes, they are adorably fuzzy for quite some time.

 

[Kiwibird]

The last paragraph of this entertaining piece from 1927 deals with the slow fledging of pūkeko chicks: http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-GutWate-t1-body1-d8.html

 

[Quailobsessed]

Your pukeko is so cute! I see them all the time in Australia but I've always known them as purple swamhens. Just warning you we've seen then take ducklings from a mother duck so they most certainly do eat meat.

I suppose since she is imprinting on you, you can't really release her. What are your plans for her when she grows up?

I guess it's been an interesting adventure for you particularly since information about them would be hard to find. Good luck with your little ones.

 

[Theblackpukeko]

The last paragraph of this entertaining piece from 1927 deals with the slow fledging of pūkeko chicks: http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-GutWate-t1-body1-d8.html

Thanks, that article is actually really interesting and helpful in general! It really reassured me about her slow fledging, and guess what: when I went to feed them just now, I saw the first sprouts inmidst that Teddy fluff on her back. It's not much yet, just a very tiny amount and only about 1mm long.

And I witnessed another phenomenon just now: Pukeko teens actually help their family in feeding the younger chicks. Well, I gave her some mealworms and she eats some, then she holds a worm in her beak and starts making this weird call. One of the chicks comes running and she actually turns towards it and lets the worm get stolen. I was so amazed that I tested it a couple of times more and she actually calls for them and gives the worms to them.

What are your plans for her when she grows up?

I am going to keep her close to me, so I'm setting her free at the farm with the chicks. I already made a plan for slowly getting them used to being down there and the new surroundings, so we'll see how that goes in a few weeks. Good thing is they'll be starting there in summer so I don't have to worry about them freezing