Janty Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Well, we are home with our little brood. I have also collected some for friends who are experts at this and have hatched chicks before. They are going to guide me through rearing these gorgeous sweeties and be at the end of a phone when I need them. I haven't had a chance to take photos yet...we had a bite to eat when we came back and I have just taken M-I-L home. They are all eating and drinking well and there are no signs of pasting up around the vents. They are in a huge indoor rabbit cage with the heat lamp over them in the conservatory. They are also on underfloor heating so I have raised up the lamp as we are monitoring the temperature and they are quite content. They are chirping quite quietly at the moment after a good feed. I told my son not to name any as we might lose a couple over the course of time and then hubby promptly named one Chipolata. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Here are a few photos of some of the girls... First let me introduce Chipolata. So called because she has the intellect of our cat Sausage. That is, very little. The next chicks don't have names yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 They are all lovely, I like the colours if the last one. did you do the water bottle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Yes, we had three hot water bottles although the lady at the centre didn't have time to do them for us. She was called out by the fire brigade to a swan on a roof. We had taken the hot water bottles and some wheat bags. When she didn't have time, we stopped off at a Little Chef and asked them to fill up the bottles. We wrapped them in some old towels and the chicks slept most of the way back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 good thinking!! i thought the wheat bag made a difference, did you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 They definitely settled after we put the hot water bottles in. We have a little blonde one that hubby has taken to. he keeps calling me over to the cage saying that she's looking in a bad way but she's fine. She sleeps with her neck stretched out over the others...looks really uncomfortable. So far, I am the one who said that we couldn't have them and Hubby said 'Go on' and persuaded me. I said we are not getting attached to them or naming them as although we are going to rear them and look after them, they all have loving homes to go to with lots of free ranging space (apart from two or three that will have a loving home here ) and some may die. So far Hubby has named three and taken a shine to five. I give up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 They definitely settled after we put the hot water bottles in. We have a little blonde one that hubby has taken to. he keeps calling me over to the cage saying that she's looking in a bad way but she's fine. She sleeps with her neck stretched out over the others...looks really uncomfortable. So far, I am the one who said that we couldn't have them and Hubby said 'Go on' and persuaded me. I said we are not getting attached to them or naming them as although we are going to rear them and look after them, they all have loving homes to go to with lots of free ranging space (apart from two or three that will have a loving home here ) and some may die. So far Hubby has named three and taken a shine to five. I give up. Theres no reason to loose any, admittedly it is pot luck. but as longs as they are warm and have fresh water and food they should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I think that I am just preparing myself really. A few of the books that I have looked at said that you have to expect to lose a few chicks during the first six to eight weeks. I suppose that during the first weeks they are the most vulnerable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Fingers crossed they will all be ok.They dont know how lucky they are to have a mummy that cares bless em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 oooo I wish I was closer........ they look so adorable, I just know I wouldn't be able to resist getting some, but DH would probably have a small fit as we are preparing for 4 ex-batts who are arriving in 13 days and 7 3/4 hours...obsessed ...me..no Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topdollar Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 I wish I'd read this thread earlier as I've been getting stuff ready to breed some chicks from my own ladies in the summer. I have the brooder in my shed and only need the crumbs to house them . I'm fairlly new to keeping chickens but my next door neighbour has her own rescue centre and a wealth of knowledge I can draw on. If anyone in the berkshire area is going to get some and has room then I can take 4. good luck to all that have new babies to look after. Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 oooo I wish I was closer........ they look so adorable, I just know I wouldn't be able to resist getting some, but DH would probably have a small fit as we are preparing for 4 ex-batts who are arriving in 13 days and 7 3/4 hours...obsessed ...me..no Sha x quite jealous aren't we Sha? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Ive just had them all out, their quiet happy to sit on you lol and their sooo fluffy and warm lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 lucky you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 oooo I wish I was closer........ they look so adorable, I just know I wouldn't be able to resist getting some, but DH would probably have a small fit as we are preparing for 4 ex-batts who are arriving in 13 days and 7 3/4 hours...obsessed ...me..no Sha x quite jealous aren't we Sha? Oh yes Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 oooo I wish I was closer........ they look so adorable, I just know I wouldn't be able to resist getting some, but DH would probably have a small fit as we are preparing for 4 ex-batts who are arriving in 13 days and 7 3/4 hours...obsessed ...me..no Sha x I know what you mean but ive taken on 2 ex bats and want 2 more in the summer so ive had to say no as well.My ex bats have been so rewarding.A friend of mine got some so ill watch hers grow up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
