The Poultry Keeper

fortroyal · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 21

Day 21 yesterday and of the 6 eggs that got cold because my incubator was disturbing my husband's movie watching...... 1 has hatched!!!! Not the cute yellow ball of fluff I was expecting, but a black drowned rat type thing! Problems:

1 - It's got no brothers or sisters, will this matter?
2 - I haven't got an infra-red light, will a warm lamp do?
3 - Will it get bullied by my other chickens when I eventually put it out?
4 - Does anyone know a good way of toilet-training so it could be a house-pet?

Helen

NannyP · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:08 pm Post subject:

Remind me, what sort of Incubator is it in, can he/she stay in there to dry out.
A normal bulb will not really work, as it will be daylight 24/7 and the chick will find it hard to sleep.
Toilet training To funny

. Of course if you manage this miracle please tell us all Wink

It'll be okay until it's siblings make an appearance and the chicks will be chased by the others when they eventually join them, but this will sort it self out.

What about food, have you got some for the new chick? It will be fine for 24 hours, and then will need chick crumbs and water. A good idea is to dip it's beak into the water initially to let it know it's there.
Also, make sure you use towelling or corregated cardboard for underneath their feet, to prevent spraddle leg.
Hope this helps.
Very Happy

fortroyal · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 21

It's in a novital covatuto 6.

It is the only egg that will hatch, the others all failed!

Aussie Chick · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:30 pm Post subject: Re: New Arrival!

NannyP · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:36 pm Post subject:

The others might still hatch, they will be late as they had that period of cooling. Mojo suggests not to disgard eggs unitl Day 25, especially (and I can't remember which your's are) Marans, they're always later.

I have no experience of you incubator, and it sounds like you may not be able to keep the chick in there to dry out. What do the Inc instructions say?

jaydee67 · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 5:04 pm Post subject:

I have used a desk lamp as brooder light several times with success - the chicks will sleep at the drop of a hat whether the light is on or not! Have also used a normal bulb suspended over the brooder for larger hatches.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Congratulations on your chick. As this is the only one that has hatched would it be possible for you to buy maybe another couple of chicks of the same age? If not the same age, then the same size ~ chickens judge each other by size not age I've found. That way it would be easier for them when it's time to join your other girls.