How many chickens in Eglu Cube

[jellykelly]

I've just gotten back from a shopping trip. I looked in on the chicks and found the shell of the newly hatched chick - where was the chick? I searchd under broody and around the nest. i eventually find new chick cold and under straw some distance away from the nest.

I've brought her in and she's on a hot water bottle in a cage and under a 60w normal bulb. her breathing has improved and she is cheeping.

Do you think I should stick her under mum now (she's not fluffed up yet) or wait until fluffed up and shove her under in the evening??

[Redwing]

Well done on your quick action

 

You could try her with mum now or wait until its dark, I guess it depends on whether you think the mum pushed the youngster out of the nest or if it simply wandered too far and got cold, if you think mum doesnt want it in the nest its best to place it back tonight after dark, if it seems like it was an accident then she should take it back fine in daylight, if she takes it back then the fact that its still damp is fine

[jellykelly]

Thankyou. i've just poked her back under mum and there is a lot of cheeping and I suppose contented clucking going on. I'll give it an hour or so and then check again - or would you think I need to look in sooner?

[Redwing]

A check in about half an hour would be good, it sounds like all will be ok though

 

Sometimes a chick does wander away from the others and I'm often surprised that the mum doesnt round it up but I guess she is just intent on protecting the remainder

 

good job you spotted it

[jellykelly]

Thanks for your speedy response. I'm so glad that this forum exsisits. There's always someone on that knows what they're on about!!

I'll be keeping a close eye on her for a while then.

[Lewis]

Was this the first chick to hatch?

 

From reading other peoples posts + with ours, it seems to be a trend that the reject the first one

[jellykelly]

No lewis - This was chick number three. They've been hatching out at a rate of 1 per day! Only three to go now.

 

Mum seems to have taken it back so it must just have hatched and wandered away silly chick.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

They're not known for their brain capacity in adulthood, so really no surprise that the babies aren't the brightest

 

Well done on your quick action, Drusilla had her first hatchling "out on the edge"...once it was warm, fluffy and very very noisy (in about an hour) I tucked it back under & she's been fine ever since......if you don't count the two which she unfortunately trampled

 

Sha x

[jellykelly]

I'm sorry guys, I have another question. Little late chick from yesterday appears to be smaller and weaker then the others. She's outside in a spare house and run with mum. Weak chick is a little unsteady on her feet and appears to be shivering. Would it be advisable for me to temporarily rehouse mum and chicks in my indoor rabbit cage? It's a large cage and they could stay there until the weather turns a little nicer (it's not nice at the mo.)

 

Thanks

[Jools]

I would, yes. If I've read your posts correctly, the third chick is one day and two days behind the other two, so is bound to be weaker at first. A more confined, sheltered space (with food and water for the others) will certainly help it catch up.

 

Fingers crossed.

[jellykelly]

I was hoping someone would say that it's a good idea! It means that I can watch them too.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

If mum gets distressed with the move, can you cover the run so it's not draughty in there? My broods have their runs covered from above with corrugated plastic and below with plastic lawn edging on the eglu and a gazebo or plastic shower curtain from above & lawn edging from below on the wooden house.........mum keeps settling down for a warming cuddle & Drusilla takes her babies back indoors if it's chillier than she'd like for them

 

for the littlie

 

Sha x

[jellykelly]

they're indoors now - in the dining room with me. Smelly mum let me know she wasn't pleased by doing an almighty poo in the cage. It's stunk the room out

They'll only be in here hopefully until tomorrow. I just want to ensure that mum is taking care of all three equally and not just leaving the little one to get on with things. Touch wood, things will go well.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

You didn't waste any time getting her in did you

 

Bless her little stinky bottom

 

Sha x

[jellykelly]

Bless it!? I've cleaned the poo up but the smell just lingers

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Still the foul broody variety then This is why my broody runs are fairly closed in but outside............it's bad enough sticking my head into the wooden house or with a broody poo in evidence.........in my dining room .......no thank you

 

Mind you my brooder is upstairs in my son's bedroom......wonder if he'll want to share when he gets home tomorrow

[jellykelly]

Yep - Truly foul! How long until they pass and she actually gets up off of her bum? I'm pretty sure her legs must be dead!

 

Oh, your poor son. My kids would love to share a room with a brooder (so would I at one point) but already I can see and hear how noisy and smelly they will be.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

He's away at boarding school, so only home at weekends so hasn't really been a problem.......tomorrow night might be though

 

I think once she starts eating properly she'll clear the "backlog" of gunk & go back to normal toilet habits......My Drusilla was as normal as an Orpington is (still vast but not so vile) within a few days & Blossom likewise....Bloss was back on her feet the day after she'd decided the last egg was non viable.

 

She'll hopefully be fine within a day or so....fingers crossed for the littlie ...is she treating them all alike now she's indoors?

 

Sha x