SageHill
Herd Master
Dang. Sorry.
rachels.haven's Journal
- Thread starter rachels.haven
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #5,782
rachels.haven
Herd Master
McMurray, but according to the tracking the bantams shipped from Texas and the polish and campine shipped from Minnesota so they came from all over and went through all sorts of temps (I thought McMurray was in Iowa). It's sad because I don't usually lose chicks and I watched one of them drown itself in an eighth of an inch of water in front of me (waterer tightened down to "baby chick mode" where it hardly lets any out to supposedly prevent drowning or getting soaked while wading). It just didn't lift its head after drinking when I changed the waterer a few hours after getting them set up...until I pulled it out. Usually I get production birds like leghorns, rocks, Australorps and don't lose any. These seemed in rough shape and a little bit not as bright and somewhat delicate right now.
Last edited:
Have you tried putting a bunch of small marbles in the waterier? They can still get water from between the marbles but can not drown. We did this with our baby quail which are tiny.
I used Cackle, from Texas I think, after recommendations from other chicken keepers. I was really pleased with the chicks and the service.
My bantam Dominiques are 2 years old now.
This is Abigail.
My bantam Dominiques are 2 years old now.
This is Abigail.
- Thread starter
- #5,785
rachels.haven
Herd Master
I thought about using the marbles, but I don't think it would have worked. Yesterday they would have drowned with the marbles. I'm still going to get me some just in case they do work and use them from now on.
I wonder if my bantams were drop shipped from Cackle in TX. I have no idea what hatcheries are near Minneapolis MN. McMurray got hit hard by bird flu last year so I guess I shouldn't be surprised all the chicks came from different places than usual. I hope they're healthy.
I wonder if my bantams were drop shipped from Cackle in TX. I have no idea what hatcheries are near Minneapolis MN. McMurray got hit hard by bird flu last year so I guess I shouldn't be surprised all the chicks came from different places than usual. I hope they're healthy.
Mini Horses
Herd Master
Use rocks or pebbles if no marbles. Ya know, they're not in every store now days. 
I used glass stones in my chick waterers, the type people use in terrariums or vases, also referred to as flat marbles. Walmart, Hobby Lobby, dollar stores have them.
Akasha Decorative Tropical Glass Gems, 38 oz. Jar, Multicolor - Walmart.com
Buy Akasha Decorative Tropical Glass Gems, 38 oz. Jar, Multicolor at Walmart.com
www.walmart.com
Finnie
Herd Master
- Joined
- May 6, 2017
- Messages
- 1,477
- Reaction score
- 4,513
- Points
- 363
Have you considered switching to vertical nipple waterers? They are not perfect, but they are slightly less messy and the chicks cannot poop (or drown) in the water. After about a week, I switch to horizontal nipples, and those are much less drippy.
- Thread starter
- #5,789
rachels.haven
Herd Master
Well Finnie, along your line of thought I just broke their chick drinker and no where here has chicken stuff in stock anymore so today they get one of those cup drinkers. Only one death this morning and it was the splayed leg Campine. I think the last expected death-the bantam that sits on its rump and rocks all the time-will pitter out today. Other than that one everyone else looks okay so it should just be feeding and watering and watching out for pasty butt and other mishaps. This was a crappy batch of beat up chicks but hopefully they will be healthy after this and hopefully their quality is on the level (considering I don't think these came from McMurray now we get to wait and see).
I'm sorry for the losses.
Speaking of pasty-butt, an experienced chicken tender
suggested feeding the chicks wet mash instead of dry. I added water to their crumbles to make mash, and didn't see pasty-butt again, in that or subsequent hatches.
