Could use some chick advise please.
I have a hen that went broody, so I gave her 8 eggs to see what she would do. She has NOT been a great broody-mama and has left them several times for extended amounts of time. I did NOT expect any to hatch and thought that IF any did they would likely be late.
Well, yesterday was the 'due' date and low and behold 2 hatched!!!!! She had killed one before I found them and was upset and messing with the one that had piped. I got my brooder set up as quickly as I could (who needs a brooder - I've got a broody.... yeah right....) and by the time I got back to them the chick was taking a break so she had settled down. I sat out in the coop till about 11:00 with it hatching in my hand - which was VERY COOL!!!!!!!
So here's the questions:
1. Once it was out of the egg, it was still attached at it's butt by a vein and what looked like some white membrane. I let it be and left 'her' to dry off and rest. This morning 'she' was dragging the shell around behind her so I broke off the crusty membrane right at her butt. Should I be concerned????? Is that normal?????
2. I noticed this morning that there are TINY black specks crawling on the thermometer that is laying in the shavings. Like I said, my brooder was NOT ready for chicks. I had JUST swept it out this past weekend to prepare for Gilmanor chicks. I was planning to dust it this week in case there were any 'critters' in there from the roos that were in there a few months ago. IF these are mites - what can I do for a day old chick????? Or - reguardless of what they are, what should I do about them (if anything)?
I have a hen that went broody, so I gave her 8 eggs to see what she would do. She has NOT been a great broody-mama and has left them several times for extended amounts of time. I did NOT expect any to hatch and thought that IF any did they would likely be late.
Well, yesterday was the 'due' date and low and behold 2 hatched!!!!! She had killed one before I found them and was upset and messing with the one that had piped. I got my brooder set up as quickly as I could (who needs a brooder - I've got a broody.... yeah right....) and by the time I got back to them the chick was taking a break so she had settled down. I sat out in the coop till about 11:00 with it hatching in my hand - which was VERY COOL!!!!!!!
So here's the questions:
1. Once it was out of the egg, it was still attached at it's butt by a vein and what looked like some white membrane. I let it be and left 'her' to dry off and rest. This morning 'she' was dragging the shell around behind her so I broke off the crusty membrane right at her butt. Should I be concerned????? Is that normal?????
2. I noticed this morning that there are TINY black specks crawling on the thermometer that is laying in the shavings. Like I said, my brooder was NOT ready for chicks. I had JUST swept it out this past weekend to prepare for Gilmanor chicks. I was planning to dust it this week in case there were any 'critters' in there from the roos that were in there a few months ago. IF these are mites - what can I do for a day old chick????? Or - reguardless of what they are, what should I do about them (if anything)?
