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Sometimes you'll hatch a bird(s) with a leg sticking out sideways or noticeably curled toes. I'm sure there are legitimate names for these issues, but we're going to say gimpy legs and curly toes.

https://files.catbox.moe/jrm21b.jpg

Usually it's just a bird or two, but poor genes and/or sketchy incubation can cause multiple to hatch this way. If it's one out of the 50+ you just hatched, just cull it. But, you can try to fix it if you can't live with doing what I said.

For the gimpy leg, tie them together like shackles. A bandaid works well, but it can be difficult to remove later. Some people use a hair tie with a piece of tape in the middle or simply use string.

https://files.catbox.moe/lvu0cl.jpg

For the curly toes, make a little sandle with a bandaid.

https://files.catbox.moe/uev3ik.jpg

Give it a few days and some observation. There's a good chance you'll save the little shit. Just be gentle, it's likely the smallest, most fragile animal you've ever held in your hand.

Sometimes you'll hatch a bird(s) with a leg sticking out sideways or noticeably curled toes. I'm sure there are legitimate names for these issues, but we're going to say gimpy legs and curly toes. https://files.catbox.moe/jrm21b.jpg Usually it's just a bird or two, but poor genes and/or sketchy incubation can cause multiple to hatch this way. If it's one out of the 50+ you just hatched, just cull it. But, you can try to fix it if you can't live with doing what I said. For the gimpy leg, tie them together like shackles. A bandaid works well, but it can be difficult to remove later. Some people use a hair tie with a piece of tape in the middle or simply use string. https://files.catbox.moe/lvu0cl.jpg For the curly toes, make a little sandle with a bandaid. https://files.catbox.moe/uev3ik.jpg Give it a few days and some observation. There's a good chance you'll save the little shit. Just be gentle, it's likely the smallest, most fragile animal you've ever held in your hand.

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[–] • 0 pt

I'm glad they're doing well. Those 3 girls will be busy in the coming months, I hope!

I could see oddball eggs hatching oddball chicks. I'm selective with my eggs, but I've still had this happen. I don't try saving any of them, though. I did fix a duckling by leaving it inside a toddler sock for a couple days. Saw it online and I'll be damned if it didn't work out.

You're right on avoiding slippery ground. I mentioned using sand as a base in my tutorials. Under the heat, it always stays nice and dry. Semi-deep hamster bedding works well, too.

Also, we're well into the negative temperatures here for the last week and looking at another week of it. My chickens are miserable, my ducks are fine (a little slower maybe), but my quail hop around and act like it's no big deal.

[–] • 0 pt (edited )

How often do you have to clean the sand for them until they're ready to go out of the brooder? Do you use something like a cat scooper? I'm sorry if you answered that and I missed it.

we're well into the negative temperatures here

Sounds absolutely dreadful. It was 74 here today. We keep getting a day of freezing, then several 60-70's. Perfect way to ruin fruiting trees.

Two weeks through to maturity are fine in those temperatures, just dry and out of the wind?

[–] • 0 pt

Mine only spend 7-10 days in brooder 1 before going on wire in brooder 2. It doesn't really require cleaning during that period. I use a cat scooper if necessary and also in the adult's sandbox.

I wouldn't risk anything under 7-8 weeks old in those temps. They're fully off heat by 3 weeks old, but that's only if off heat means outdoor temps of 50+.

Anything under 20 degrees and their poop freezes before falling through 1/2inch hardware cloth, btw.

[–] • 0 pt

I couldn't imagine living in that kind of climate. I told my husband a couple days ago that we should've moved north so we would be forced to learn to survive before we could no longer go buy ourselves out of trouble.