GrandMOM to be....

[Nicos]

All present and correct Sir in their own nests...and babe ate about a raisin amount of scrambled egg!!!

I'm thinking that's not enough..but will try again just before bed time.
Boys and Alice are back out playing- will get them in within the hour.

I wonder if I should remove the food for the baby..it's not had much...nor water.....


by heck this parenting lark is worrying as a first time granny ( I bet Wayne is just as worried in a more grown up sort of way???)

[MaureenHall]

All present and correct Sir in their own nests...and babe ate about a raisin amount of scrambled egg!!!

When you consider the size of the chick and imagine what size its stomach is, a raisin is quite big (I think!) Won't it still be absorbing the rest of its yolk?

[lynda66]

they don't eat much for the first 48 hours, they are sustained by absorbing the egg yolk. but you can try dipping its beak in the water, so it knows its there

[Nicos]

OK- thanks- will remove the food but leave the water after dipping it's beak in it ( and yes- I know to watch out for the nostrils!!!)



THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!

[lynda66]

i would leave the food just make sure mummy has yummy stuff so she don't eat it lol ... they will have a peck they are very curious they will eat a bit, just not much.

[Nicos]

Whilst you're there Lynda ( I have visitors arriving any sec...)

..how high can they jump in the first few days?? my other worry is it might jump out/fall from the nest which has a 4" barrier from the edge of the shelf- and then can't climb up..and die of cold

( see I told you I worry- but that's what made me so good at my previous job which involved risk management!)

[lynda66]

they will manage 4" .... don't worry if they fall they bounce, as long as theres no draughts they will be fine, thats what mummies are for.

if you are really worried put a slope of straw up to the top

[CoraxAurata]

you can get un-medicated chick crumbs ......

LOL - oops did I forget to mention that!

I struggle to get it here though...so maybe thats why <g>

[Nicos]

no chance of unmedicated here...they looked utterly confused at the outlet when I asked if there was anything without extra vitamins and medication ( yup..I too am clearly labelled a weird English woman now!)

[CoraxAurata]

i would leave the food just make sure mummy has yummy stuff so she don't eat it lol ... they will have a peck they are very curious they will eat a bit, just not much.

Thats pretty much my thoughts too.

How are your guys doing? I saw some of your piccies somewhere they look like they would quite like to stay house chickens <g> they've got it so good...

[CoraxAurata]

no chance of unmedicated here...they looked utterly confused at the outlet when I asked if there was anything without extra vitamins and medication ( yup..I too am clearly labelled a weird English woman now!)

check the bag for baby waterfowl as ducks shouldn't have the medication in chick crumbs but I am unsure what other differences it may have ( my ducklings get home-made feeding 'cos I won't give them medicated chick crumbs (I'm afraid I made that mistake once....) and alternatives are hard for me to get..

[Nicos]

How are your guys doing? I saw some of your piccies somewhere they look like they would quite like to stay house chickens <g> they've got it so good...

I think Lynda should open a zoo...she's been fantastic with all her animals/birds!!

[lynda66]

oh they love being house chickens, and i'd be happy for them to stay house chickens if they didn't smell so much lol

latest videos of them in the snow YouTube - lynda1966's Channel

[CoraxAurata]

oh they love being house chickens, and i'd be happy for them to stay house chickens if they didn't smell so much lol

latest videos of them in the snow YouTube - lynda1966's Channel

Slightly reluctant adventurers! My group of about the same age (hatched christmas day) are still quite flighty (and smelly too), they'll eat out of my hand but mostly they tend to snatch and run... The previous group were and are much more settled, and as the first group were 6 girls and 2 boys and the younger ones are 6 boys and three girls if the gender has anything to do with how docile they are...

What breeds were yours from? I'll take some pics of my older set tomorrow if I can, I think you'll like them

[lynda66]

yup, not impressed with snow lol.

mealworms did it for mine they will still kill for them makes them very tame quickly

mine are a mix of marans 4 black ones mums were marans of some sort, i think one is a warren cross, and possibly the white one is a leghorn, ..... fathers are dubious, but there is copper black marans in there somewhere, (think cocoa may be) and think pingus dad may be a black sussex....... basically could be anything lol..... to be honest the boys are really sweet, and just as friendly as the girls, though they do push the girls off the perch