Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => Chicken Chat => Topic started by: ANHBUC on September 13, 2012, 15:05
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Lotty my broody Wyandotte bantam had been sitting on her own eggs and some quail eggs. One of her eggs hatched and the others all failed. It was 4 days after day 18 for the quail eggs and none had hatched. I had been unable to candle them so decided to see if any had developed and to what stage. Out of 5 eggs the first 2 were rotten. I started to open the third and the chick looked fully developed! It was alive and had its beak in the airsack. I panicked and took it straight back to put back under Lotty with the last 2 eggs.
My hands were covered in blood which was not a good sign. I checked online and didn't hold out much hope for the little chick.
When I checked a while later Lotty was not keeping the chick warm so I had to bring it indoors and do a makeshift brooder. It seemed to be struggling to stand so I kept dipping its beak in water with honey over the next 2 days. Each morning I expected it to be dead and it was still wriggling about this morning. I gave it another beak dip of the water and expected to see a little corpse later in the day.
Later I heard it chirping and when I checked it was running round like Roadrunner!! It tries to jump/fly and I can't really believe it. I have taught it to peck ground up chick crumb and just managed to get it to drink on its own.
The other 2 quail eggs I opened this morning and they were also rotten.
So I would like to introduce you to Miracolo (pictures of 3 hours old and 2 days old).
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soooo cute.....sometimes if there is the will to live, it doesn't matter how much the odds are stacked against you - you make it happen and pull through. go miracolo!!!
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:D I am looking forward to sleeping through tonight and not having to get up 3 times to make sure Miracolo didn't dehydrate.
For once I am hoping the chick is a roo as I have 9 ladies he can woo!!
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Well done!
And hello to Miracolo :)
This is a story that will stay with you for life :D
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Not out of the woods yet but very hopeful. I was really beating myself up for opening the egg when I read online you shouldn't assist a chick to hatch. With the others being rotten they could have contaminated Lottys other eggs if they had broken.
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Lovely and well done ANHBUC. :lol:
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oh plucky little fella, they grow so quickly.
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That's an amazing story 8) Hope little Miracolo goes from strength to strength now :)
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He/she has been racing round today. I want to hand tame him which will be a challenge as he is harder to handle than a hamster as he is so small, wriggly and very quick. :lol:
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Just took loads of photos of Miracolo but he is so quick most of them were a blur! ::) Had to put the camera on a sport setting to catch him. :lol:
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Oh wow!! Just goes to show doesn't it. :D
have fun trying to hand tame speedy
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Well done, Miracolo is gorgeous!
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Wow, they really can surprise you can't they?!
Half the time they seem to die without any reason at all and then there's one who survives against all odds!
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Luckily I put 2 bulbs into the makeshift brooder as one of them went this afternoon. :ohmy: Went to check on Miracolo and the temperature was down but no too low. Found a new bulb and he is happily scratching around again, phew!
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Gorgeous wee fella :) Hope he continues to do well...
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Miracolo is growing well but is not an Italian quail as first thought. :ohmy: Possibly a Rosetta but still unsure of his markings. Any suggestions from members would be welcome. :D
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One more
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Awww, he is so sweet.
Sometimes if I get a poorly chick that can't eat, as well as a little sugar water with a spot of salt for re-hydration, I'll soak a little chick crumb in water. then if they can drink they get the goodness from the soaked crumb.
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Oh isn't it lovely. I can't help you as to what it could be, I know nothing about quails but have thought often about having them! I'd have to learn.
Hope he/she does well and its lovely when that happens. Nice story.
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Have been told by the breeder that the eggs must have got mixed up and he is a Rosetta. I am still waiting to hear if the breeder can tell if Miracolo is a he or she. Keeping fingers crossed for he.
Spent the other morning giving my 9 girls a pedicure. They are going through moult and the little feathers get caught on their claws with their poo. Twenty minutes foot soak in 12mm of warm water to soften it makes it easier to pick off. One had an overgrown top beak so used a battlery operated pedicure file to gently file it down. She really seemed to enjoy the treatment. :blush:
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Well Miracolo is now crowing and biting the hand that feeds him! ::) There's gratitude for you. He is still too young at 5 weeks to be put in with my quail hens but he is going mad to be with the ladies. I have brought him indoors in the hope that if he can't hear the ladies he will calm down.
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He's going through the hormone crazy teenage stage then ::) :lol:
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He's going through the hormone crazy teenage stage then ::) :lol:
Hope he grows out of it soon as he is wearing himself out and me watching him!! ::) :lol:
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:lol: :lol: :lol:
Reminds me of my 2 Serama boys - they went from little chicks who would run to you to be cuddled, to 'orrible little thugs. They will eat out of my hand again now, but try picking one up :ohmy: :lol:
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Will see if he settles down overnight. If not I think I will have to put him in a breeding hutch with a few of the ladies. He is like a caged lion and I don't want him to go nuts or injure himself. :(