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please could someone advise me?
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chrissy



Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Pangbourne
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 05 3:59 pm    Post subject: please could someone advise me? Reply with quote
    

We were given some partridge eggs to put under a broody hen a couple of weeks ago as the mother partridge was accidentally killed. I didn't think for a minute they would hatch but five did this morning. I am at a loss to know what to do with them. Any ideas on what I should feed them or are they doomed? The mother hen is being very motherly and looking after them.

I thought if anyone would know someone here would. Thanks.

monkey1973



Joined: 17 Jan 2005
Posts: 683
Location: Bonnie scotland
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 05 4:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You can get proper chick feed from various feed stores but I would recommend putting some layers pellets through the blender/processor and mixing it with some breadcrumbs which should do them fine.
Broody hens were commonly used to hatch pheasants eggs due to their good mothering nature as pheasants had a tendency to flee the eggs too soon.
Well done by the way. Keep us posted as to how they get on.

judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 05 4:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

For want of an alternative, I would definitely leave the chicks with mother hen for now. If she's a good mum, she will look after them better than you can. Just put down some water and grain for now so she can help them feed.

It might be a good idea to contact the RSPB for help on how to procede from there.

monkey1973



Joined: 17 Jan 2005
Posts: 683
Location: Bonnie scotland
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 05 4:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Oh and keep them supplied with fresh water.
Are they seperate from the other hens?

Gertie



Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 05 4:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Congratulations, chrissy, on your eggs hatching. Some sound advice from monkey1973 and Judith.

chrissy



Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Pangbourne
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 05 4:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yes we had to seperate her from the others as they were attacking her. They have fresh water and for now some crumbled egg yolk which they are eating.

Thanks Monkey for the suggestion for the layers pellets and breadcrumbs. I'll do that right now.

Blue Sky



Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 05 4:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You could always just soak the "layers pellets" in a little warm water for a few mins before putting it into the coup. We found this to be successful with ours.

Congrats BTW

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 05 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I cannot track down specific detials but have found reference to being fed chick crumbs.

This interesting piece from the Game Consevancy Trust which implies chick crumbs are mainly used but added wild creatures (see RSPB quote) give better results.

https://www.gct.org.uk/text03.asp?PageId=194

From the RSPB site their natural food is:

Quote:
Grey partridge chicks feed on insects, especially caterpillars, beetles, bugs, ants and aphids. Breeding is more successful when there is plenty of this food available. Chicks take insects mainly from crop margins.


...and I've just thought at this time of year there's often plenty of plump ants eggs and flying ants waiting to fly so you could rack down a nest and place some in a bowl for the chicks.

Wombat



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 396
Location: SW Cheshire
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 05 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Pitty you are so far away, otherwise I would take them for our shoot.

Wombat

chrissy



Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Pangbourne
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 05 6:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Wombat wrote:
Pitty you are so far away, otherwise I would take them for our shoot.

Wombat



chrissy



Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Pangbourne
PostPosted: Tue Jul 19, 05 6:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Treacodactyl wrote:

...and I've just thought at this time of year there's often plenty of plump ants eggs and flying ants waiting to fly so you could rack down a nest and place some in a bowl for the chicks.


As they are still inside that is a brilliant idea. We have more than enough of them around here.

chrissy



Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Pangbourne
PostPosted: Wed Jul 20, 05 1:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Just to update all you who are interested. I got hold of some chick crumb today and they love it. They are also having the ground up pellets with breadcrumbs. I have sewn an insect catcher out of an old net curtain which works a treat (just hope the neighbours aren't watching - I'd be certified) so they are feasting on them too. They look very lively today so I'm pretty hopeful for them.

Thanks again for all your help. I was a bit beside myself yesterday.

Bugs



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

PostPosted: Wed Jul 20, 05 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Good luck Chrissy, glad its going well. What will you do with them when they get older, are they the native one?

chrissy



Joined: 20 Feb 2005
Posts: 238
Location: Pangbourne
PostPosted: Wed Jul 20, 05 1:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yes Bugs, they were only laid a few miles away from here by a common or garden partridge.

I haven't thought too far ahead about what we'll do, but I imagine we'll set them free in our back field when they are old enough to fend for themselves.

monkey1973



Joined: 17 Jan 2005
Posts: 683
Location: Bonnie scotland
PostPosted: Wed Jul 20, 05 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

You may find they flee of their own accord. Alternatively, they may not flee at all and you will have your very own partridge family to take care of! Probably not such a bad thing.

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