The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: little blue on April 29, 2010, 08:09:12 pm

Title: happy...... sad
Post by: little blue on April 29, 2010, 08:09:12 pm

Happy   ;D   

because we have 9 chicks hatched so far!
4 light sussex, 4 copper maran, and one who looks LS but my husband insists is out of a maran egg!
Of course, they prefer popping out when I'm at work... but by peicing together the stages I have seen, I think I've managed to make a complete set.

Sad  :'(

 
because the orphaned ducklings we were 'given' on Sunday didn't survive beyond 4 days, despite all our best efforts and heat lampage

Fingers crossed 

not just for the chicks, but for the rabbit who is due babies at the weekend....     

(http://smileys.on-my-web.com/repository/Animals/animals-51.gif)

Title: Re: happy...... sad
Post by: valr on May 01, 2010, 09:16:22 pm

Sorry about the ducklings - but would love to see pics of your new babies when they arrive!

Title: Re: happy...... sad
Post by: little blue on May 01, 2010, 10:45:28 pm

Taken some.... but all abit pink-looking under the lamp!
and didn't want to use the flash and frighten the poor little things....
I'll have another go tomorrow

Title: Re: happy...... sad
Post by: jameslindsay on May 02, 2010, 09:03:47 am

littleblue any idea what went wrong with the ducklings?  Good luck with all the other new arrivals.

Title: Re: happy...... sad
Post by: little blue on May 02, 2010, 01:38:54 pm

no idea, they were hatched in the wild, mother hit by a car. they were rounded up from a shop/carpark and we put them under the heat lamp as soon as we could.
they all seemed to go the same way... kind of floppy-necked, one after the other over a period of 4 days. they seemed to drink ok, eat a little and keep warm and dry.
but htey wouldn't have lasted the day outside alone, so at least we tried.

Title: Re: happy...... sad
Post by: Roxy on May 03, 2010, 12:29:19 am

What a shame about the ducklings, but like you said, at least you tried.

Title: Re: happy...... sad
Post by: little blue on May 03, 2010, 06:42:09 pm

now have 7 chicks, just moved them into a bigger cage as they are growing well and trying out their tiny wings.
One seems to enjoy barging into all the others when they stood together minding their own business....