Virginia

[SoManyHats]

It got up to 58 here yesterday... and today we got at least 7 inches of snow. I'm so glad my husband built a hoop house (which we covered in plastic), so the littles could get out of the coop and away from the big girls despite the snow.

Here's what I woke up to this morning.

Oh, and here's a caution. I got one of these feeders for my brooder, but set it on the litter rather than hang it. I went in there yesterday and saw it moving around, lifted it up and found a chick underneath. There is a hollow just big enough for them, but it was covered in moisture, and the chick was wet from all the moisture being released by its breathing. I don't know how it got under there, but today I found another one that had gotten stuck under. Thankfully both chicks were okay, but I could have easily lost them. So I'm hanging the feeder now.

 

[Maggiesdad]

@SoManyHats - I've lost chicks to burrowing, before.

I just figured it was from their instinct to be under a hen. If I had more money to play with, I'd try one of those Brinsea EcoGlows.

 

[SoManyHats]

@SoManyHats
- I've lost chicks to burrowing, before. :/   I just figured it was from their instinct to be under a hen. If I had more money to play with, I'd try one of those  Brinsea EcoGlows.

I have an EcoGlow 20... But it doesn't really work for 20 chicks for more than a week or so! My chicks are from the NYD hatch, so about 5 weeks, and getting so big and changing so much! Here's my favorite - an EE girl, cream with lavender and black.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

I lost one last summer under one. You come back with the water and they are all running around you and u sit it down u.knowingly. I felt like crap... I don't think I will ever forget it.

 

[Cknldy]

Got cute pics of a chick that went through a feeder hole after they had knocked over the mason jar w/ round chick feeder base. It was in the jar looking like "Okay, you took your pictures and laughed at me so can you help me out now?". Thankfully I check chicks in the outdoor brooder all throughout the day no matter the weather so nothing happened to it other than distorted 'glasses' vision for a bit Here is something I did in a pinch to raise a chick waterer once and it has come in handy quite a few times- get a coffee can and cut it however tall you want to raise the waterer. For the brooder if you have 2" of shavings cut the can 2" up from the bottom, flip it upside down on floor of brooder then put in the shavings. Set waterer (or feeder) _on can bottom and it is level with the shavings but they shouldn't be able to get under it even if they burrow into the shavings. I use cut coffee cans in varying lengths to raise the little chick waterers until they are big enough to need a hanging one. Hope it helps....

 

[ki4got]

Quote:

no thwacks... just

for making me smile.

 

[finnfur]

I lost one last summer under one. You come back with the water and they are all running around you and u sit it down u.knowingly. I felt like crap... I don't think I will ever forget it.

I hang all feeders and waterers as soon as I can get them drinking from the water nipples. Thats usually around one week. I keep feeder just low enough for the smallest chick to eat out of
Seems to be less mess or waste when it is all off ground level. Have not had any chick loss problems related to equipment so far.

 

[SoManyHats]

Got cute pics of a chick that went through a feeder hole after they had knocked over the mason jar w/ round chick feeder base. It was in the jar looking like "Okay, you took your pictures and laughed at me so can you help me out now?". Thankfully I check chicks in the outdoor brooder all throughout the day no matter the weather so nothing happened to it other than distorted 'glasses' vision for a bit Here is something I did in a pinch to raise a chick waterer once and it has come in handy quite a few times- get a coffee can and cut it however tall you want to raise the waterer. For the brooder if you have 2" of shavings cut the can 2" up from the bottom, flip it upside down on floor of brooder then put in the shavings. Set waterer (or feeder) _on can bottom and it is level with the shavings but they shouldn't be able to get under it even if they burrow into the shavings. I use cut coffee cans in varying lengths to raise the little chick waterers until they are big enough to need a hanging one. Hope it helps....

Thanks for the tips! I'd love to see your chick in the jar picture!

 

[Daox13]

Do you know this Stephanie person in Norfolk? http://www.cyberquail.com/directory.html#VA

I had not heard of her nor that website. Thanx for the heads up!

 

[ki4got]

i'm contemplating getting some quail again, since I learned how to (easily) debone a whole bird. LOL hubby might actually eat one now. (he hates picking bones)