Valentine's Day 1st Annual Hatch Along

[DarthRooster]

I made a little nest in a tuperware container where the chick stayed for about a day and a half until he could stand on his own.  The nest was bowl shaped so his legs and behind fit in the little hole in the bottom and he had no choice other than stay upright.  

The chick can stand just hobbles around. I think I'll try the Tupperware trick

 

[emvickrey]

I had a huge scare earlier. I had been up all night to keep the cat away from the brooder. The peeping was more than he could take. He had jumped to sit on top and knocked the screen and heat lamp down into the brooder. I use clear plastic totes and I insert the clamp of the heat light between the expandable screen. For extra safety I put another screen across the tote under the screen that has the heat lamp just in case he did get on top it would hold his weight. Well he knocked it to where it fell inside the brooder. The chicks are ok thank goodness. I took a nap earlier and had my grandson watch over the brooder. After I woke up and was still keeping an eye on the brooder I heard alot of loud peeping. I went to see what was up and the cat was laying in the brooder just watching the 2 chicks I had at the time. This cat was a drop off back in the summer and he is terrified of outside. So after he got in the brooder somehow without disturbing the screen or light he got spanked and I put him outside.

Now he has discovered the mice in the barn and can care less about being outside. So much for punishment. But at least I'm not having to worry about the chicks.

I have 3 more zipping. Two orps and a sizzle.

 

[Ravynscroft]

This incubator looks interesting.  But really I should save my money for a cabinet hatcher to keep breeds apart or a better brooder set up.
http://www.coopsnmore.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=1838

Can't tell which one you were looking at, it shows a bunch, lol... if it was the Sunny Side Up one, I'd say save your money... I have never used it, but all the reports I've heard on it were no good...

 

[Ravynscroft]

I had a huge scare earlier. I had been up all night to keep the cat away from the brooder. The peeping was more than he could take. He had jumped to sit on top and knocked the screen and heat lamp down into the brooder. I use clear plastic totes and I insert the clamp of the heat light between the expandable screen. For extra safety I put another screen across the tote under the screen that has the heat lamp just in case he did get on top it would hold his weight. Well he knocked it to where it fell inside the brooder. The chicks are ok thank goodness. I took a nap earlier and had my grandson watch over the brooder. After I woke up and was still keeping an eye on the brooder I heard alot of loud peeping. I went to see what was up and the cat was laying in the brooder just watching the 2 chicks I had at the time. This cat was a drop off back in the summer and he is terrified of outside. So after he got in the brooder somehow without disturbing the screen or light he got spanked and I put him outside.

Now he has discovered the mice in the barn and can care less about being outside. So much for punishment. But at least I'm not having to worry about the chicks. 

I have 3 more zipping. Two orps and a sizzle.

Whew! That was close! Glad your chickies are ok!!

 

[gimmie birdies]

the frizzle wings are a'comin'

 

[ochochicas]

So far only one Turken has hatched, and he's rather shy! He doesn't like to have bare neck out or be photographed. Maybe that means HE is a She, since her daddy was never shy about anything.

 

[Jessshan8]

I was thinking about redoing my cabinet bator and thought this would be a great place to do this with step by step instructions along with plans and photos. Watcha yall think? Good idea?

 

[Wishapup]

2 weak ones are coming around in the incubator. Another hatched and not sure what it is but it's having trouble walking. Legs are splayed but it looks like 1 foot is turned slightly. Any suggestions?

The others have given you good advice. Just a warning -- hobbled chicks are very susceptible to drowning. I had a splay-leg Silkie who I carefully treated with strips of bandaid. A day or two later, she was doing well and I hoped for her complete recovery. One night, however, she fell into the trough of my chick waterer and I found her there in the morning. My waterer is quite shallow and is easy for healthy day-old chicks to get out of if they happen to stumble in. I never realized how the chick's capacity to climb out of something (even extremely shallow) was diminished by the splay-leg hobbles. Just wanted to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else!

 

[DarthRooster]

It seems to be getting around much better now. 3 more just hatched bing bang boom!!! Up to 14/23 so far. Does look like I have 3 eggs that won't be hatching the weak two are no longer weak and are running with the others in the brooder!

 

[haTHOR]

Wind blowing like crazy, bitter cold coming in. Power has flickered out three times. I have a Brinsea with 26 eggs in, as well as the babies hatching and hatched in my other bator. Really concerned we may lose electiricty tonight and have to try to keep the two bators warm by the wood stove. Dang! Wishing for my boredom from about 12 hours ago.