AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

No panic stations

You can keep them in the hen house.

1. Can you buy a bag of river sand from the nursery/building supplies to cover the dirt ground? It cost about $5.
2. Can you buy a bale of non toxic breeder's wood shavings from the stockfeed pet store? That costs $16 is compressed and goes a long way. Put that on top of the sand. Both are very absorbent, babies poop a lot and the you can scoop up the poop and keep it clean and hygienic, keeping the nursery clean helps prevent cocci and possibly and respiratory disease.
3. You can buy a tarp from $3-$10 depending on the size from your local discount store to cover them at night and at least cover one side during the day.
4. Do you have any chick crumble? The babies can survive up to a couple of days on the nutrition from their egg sac under mum, but best to be prepared for hungry beaks to feed. It is medicated to help prevent cocci, very important as with a shallow waterer so they don't drown.
5. How cold is it up in your nick of the woods, as I am not too sure about the shed if it has rodents they carry diseases. You would need to rodent proof the tractor and then there are ventilation issues.

Finally, there are more experienced people on the forum who can offer you better and more accurate advice.

Breath deeply...And good luck!

ok, deep breath!








1. Yes, I have some sand here already
2. Yes, I still have heaps of proper wood shavings from our last hatchlings (which funnily enough is where Vanessa comes from )
3. Yep, have a tarp that I used to use on the tractor where the little girls were before they were big enough to rough it with the old girls
4. Yep, got the crumble already....just a small bag...didn't want to get tooooo excited And have a wee waterer and a big waterer ready to go
5. Right, so the shed is OUT, would never mouse proof that! and seeing that the hen house is plagued also and unable to draught proof.......I guess that and all the other info we've ticked above =

I can sand and wood shaving the tractor as a 'nursery'

Yay! I think thats the solution!! I'll prep up the tractor like I normally would when the chicks are about 6-7 weeks. They are more feathered than not then and I let them have a play outside during the day. They flap about and carry on...so funny to watch. They can't yet reach the roost or nesting box, so I have a box under the nesting box and use that section more like a brooder (the shavings, some strips of material hanging down like a curtain and the heat source - yes safely away from combustables )

So Vanessa should be happy enough with that too?? If so, when would I move them all in? Just after all have hatched you reckon?

Oh . Am feeling a whole lot better about this tonight

Your plan sounds great ! Can you put the tractor near your house? Do you have a photo of the tractor? I moved mine when they had all hatched into their brooder nursery they stayed there until they had feathered up and all got too big to sleep under mum's wings.

I sure could put the tractor nearer our house. Right at the back door! The picture I put on up there ^^ isn't very good


This one's not much better!

Can you tell me, what are the main reasons you said to move it closer to the house?

Thanks heaps
Cass

Hi, Cass ,

Thank you, kindly for posting the photo. More shelter from the elements, especially at your back door and mainly so you can keep a close eye of the family.

Gotchya thanks again PP

Bigger issues!!! I think I have gone mad with Vanessa. She was just off the nest having a dust bath why now?? However as a result, I had a chance to lower the nesting box, have another squiz at the eggs which show no sign of activity at all and Umm, not quite sure how to say this, ah... ....I swear I could hear cheeping......ok it's out there now I have officially lost the plot

That is all, just awaiting the nice white jacket and padded walls

Hope that mum's hopped back on the eggs, you are probably hearing the chicks pipping and breaking out of their egg shell.
Good luck with the hatching.

Will you be in your nice white jacket and padded cell with or without the chookies Don't worry it happens to us all, please join Chookaholics Anonymous in the Members Only area. We can help

Oh, with with with the chookies in my cell! I'm takin 'em down with me

Thanks HH. I did have a pretty good look at all the eggs (fertilised and NOT ) but didn't see any holes, let alone cracks! Hmm, unless of course pipping =cheeping?? I thought pipping was the little critters beaks starting the break-out? Sooooo novice (just thought I'd point out the blaringly obvious)

Oky Dokey....you know where I'll be if you need me

Yippee

She did it!! Vanessa did it!! She's a Mumma!!!!! HOORAY FOR NESS



Dry already? How old is this little critter then?? Can you see who will be next?!! Is this the Isa, white or black Australorp?? Is it a girl??

Should I start up another game strand? I have a lot of Q's....don't I

Cass and Vanessa!

So cute

You weren't hearing things!

Start another topic in Chickens, as sorry I have no idea if it is an Isa or White Australorp or what sex it is.

Looking forward to seeing more baby photos