meepANDpeep
Songster
- Mar 6, 2021
- 314
- 733
- 176
I recently fell into the poultry hobby because I decided to incubate supermarket quail eggs. It was interesting. Of 15 eggs, 4 hatched. Two of the hatchlings died in sad circumstances, but I have two beauties that are growing nicely in the brooder. One was splay-legged and curl toed, and I was able to correct that on day one, so she hops around and is very strong.
I had to help both of the living ones out of the egg (very stressful stuff), so I was worried at first they would not be strong, but they are super feisty. One is a day older than the other and had the brooder a day longer, and he/she is maybe a little too territorial pecking at the other one all the time. I have started calling them Meep and Peep.
I'm also trying to incubate some semi-local silkie eggs, now, because I enjoyed Meep and Peep so much. I am not new to hatching animals (I have bearded dragons and have bred them before - hence my incubator), but this is my first time with birds. I bought them a chick heating pad, and the eco-glow, and I have them on pine shavings with paper towels on top. I make their food myself by blending an organic chick starter with sprouted seeds (alfalfa, broccoli, pea, radish, etc.), black soldier fly larvae, meal worms, and a little bit of dried fish egg powder. They love it!
I have 2 feeders in their brooder box to try to reduce their aggression.
Anyone have any best practices I should know? Also - any suggestions on a lid for their box (Amazon links would be greatly appreciated) for when they can fly?
I had to help both of the living ones out of the egg (very stressful stuff), so I was worried at first they would not be strong, but they are super feisty. One is a day older than the other and had the brooder a day longer, and he/she is maybe a little too territorial pecking at the other one all the time. I have started calling them Meep and Peep.
I'm also trying to incubate some semi-local silkie eggs, now, because I enjoyed Meep and Peep so much. I am not new to hatching animals (I have bearded dragons and have bred them before - hence my incubator), but this is my first time with birds. I bought them a chick heating pad, and the eco-glow, and I have them on pine shavings with paper towels on top. I make their food myself by blending an organic chick starter with sprouted seeds (alfalfa, broccoli, pea, radish, etc.), black soldier fly larvae, meal worms, and a little bit of dried fish egg powder. They love it!
I have 2 feeders in their brooder box to try to reduce their aggression.
Anyone have any best practices I should know? Also - any suggestions on a lid for their box (Amazon links would be greatly appreciated) for when they can fly?
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