Urgent advice needed on hatching partridge eggs

[notcarwyn]

Hi there, a few weeks ago a well-intentioned family member popped some abandoned partridge eggs underneath the chickens we own in the hope that the hens would sit on the eggs and raise them as their own. They’ve sat on the eggs happily until now, but have started to attack the chicks as they’ve hatched. Despite our best efforts, they don’t seem to be drinking or eating too regularly, despite them needing the most food and water at this stage. We’ve moved all of the eggs underneath a heat lamp, placed starter chick crumbs in a small container, placed water in a small container with some pebbles in it, and a fluffy toy for them to huddle in. Attached are some photos, is there any advice or critical things we should / should not be doing? We are all admittedly very inexperienced, and are working off of internet advice and our best intentions. Thank you very much, and I look forward to reading your answers!

 

[Kale the Quail]

@Nabiki ? or maybe @Kiki ? I don't have partridge so i don't know anything.

 

[Nabiki]

I don't know anything about partridge either. @007Sean ?

 

[Kiki]

Sorry... I don't think I heat lamp is going to work... To hatch the rest of the eggs.
I don't think chick feed is going to work either.

 

[007Sean]

What is the temperature directly under the heat lamp? Should be between 90 to 95°F for the 1st week in the brooder. After the 1st week the lamp can be adjusted to reduce the temp 5°F per week until they are fully feathered out or the ambient temp is 70°F. You also need to have a cooler end of the brooder, so they can get away from the heat if they want too!

You may have to dip their beaks in the water several times before they realize that this is where the water is....tapping the feed in the dish with your finger will help them to realize that its food. They should have a complete and balanced feed ration of 24% protein.

If I were you, I'd get some Nutri-Drench and a small syringe and give them some dripwise on the side of their beaks...if they appear to be weak?

Looking at this pic, the lamp appears to be over the entire brooder? It should be at one end of the brooder...to allow for a relatively cooler area on the other end of the brooder.

HTH

 

[Kiki]

Are you trying to incubate eggs in your current setup?
Or have all of them hatched already?

 

[Quailobsessed]

Are you trying to incubate eggs in your current setup?
Or have all of them hatched already?

I think some hatched and some are still hatching. Could be wrong though.

 

[Quailobsessed]

I think some hatched and some are still hatching. Could be wrong though.

@notcarwyn, If so, they should be able to hatch under a heat lamp (if it's the right temperature). I've done it with other chicks before. Good luck

 

[Kiki]

I think some hatched and some are still hatching. Could be wrong though.

The heat lamp looks way too high for trying to hatch eggs.


OP what is the temp reading right above the eggs?

 

[notcarwyn]

The heat lamp looks way too high for trying to hatch eggs.


OP what is the temp reading right above the eggs?

We have a general temp reading of the room and it’s around 35C, just had another egg hatch this morning, so now four chicks in total