URGENT Help!!!

[di]

Sorry,I know us & hatching really doesn't seem to work & I promise this will be the last time(this year!),but I need more advice!
Dandelion has hatched three chicks & the other three have been left cold in the nest all day.
I just assumed they weren't going to hatch,but Andi lifted them out & theywere cheeping!
He tried to get Dandelion to sit on them...both giving them to her outside with the chicks & trying to lift her back on the nest.She got really aggressive with the eggs,pushing them out of the way & made it quite clear she'd had enough & was happy with the babes she's got.
So!!!Without an incubator,is there anything we can do?
Right now they're in a polystyrene box with wood shavings,I've made a couple of little holes & put the lid on & left it in front of a sunny window.Oh and I put some water in & sprinkled them ever so slightly.
If they don't survive,then so be it,but I'd be happier knowing that we've done all we can.
Thankyou so much & sorry for presenting with yet another problem!xx

[Bramble-Poultry]

Light bulb - most incubators work off a lightbulb anyways - put a hole in the lid of the box and put a lamp fitting through with a 40w bulb, check the temp with any thermometer you have to hand.

heat mat if you have one, hot pad, hot water bottle, electric blanket anything you can raise the temp with - constant temp is best obviously but at this stage in the game any temp will do!! No more than 39degrees.

[Bramble-Poultry]

I will say at this stage though that if they got too cold without mom sat on them then they will have died anyways - lift them up and place them next to your ear if you can still hear them chirping or grinding then you might be ok!

[MaureenHall]

Just talking to Di on Facebook. I think they're still cheeping. she's trying to contact Matthew to borrow an incubator

[Bramble-Poultry]

oooo - fingers crossed

[di]

Thanks Bramble(& Auntie MO)...good news is I'm picking incy up at 8:30.
Right now they are in polystyrene box.A heated beanbag is sort of round them but not touching & I've put a tub of boiling water in to try & increase humidity & warmth.

[di]

Just realised how long I've been home with them...was only meant to be quick...left Andi & kiddies at the lottie with a bonfire awaiting sausages for their tea!

[Bramble-Poultry]

don;t drown them - increasing the humidity too much will do that!!! well heres hoping theres more babies in teh morning!!!

[lizzylemon]

No advice to give (I know, me with not thing tosay) just lots and lots of best wishes for the chicks and you - you must be frazzled poor thing. XX

[di]

don;t drown them - increasing the humidity too much will do that!!! well heres hoping theres more babies in teh morning!!!

Right...largish container of hoy water is now swapped for very small lid of the same water which is now just warm.I've left the lid ajar a little.(lid of box,not the one with water!)
Off to see Matthew who's a total satr & lending us his incy.

Lizzy...frazzled is close to what I'm feeling!We were meant to be burying a guinea pig this evening.Found her dead at lunchtime.

One egg is deffo still cheeping,not heard anything from the others & can't find my torch to candle them,but I'll pop them all in the incy & know that we've done all we can.
Think finding Tinkerbell dead earlier has made me more determined to help these survive!
Thanks loads for your support & help & sorry for the constant traumas...I'm usually pretty chilled out...hatching seems to do something odd to me!

[Bramble-Poultry]

di - the others may have gone quiet becuase they are hatching!!!

Chicks can;t multi task hun, they can't cheap and grind at the same time. You will here them grinding away if you listen closley.

you are doing all you can and that is all that can be asked of you - pop them in the incy and wait with baited breath - may take another couple of days yet!

[matthew2riches]

Had a busy day today and am all hot and sticky. Waiting for Di to come and collect the incubator then I'll go in the shower.

Ding dong (door)......

[MaureenHall]

I think ALL us grapes should have a huge pat on the back (no, not a cow pat!!!) If we've got worries or concerns, or even help, we just have to ask and there's somebody there for us. This is an absolutely BRILLIANT forum, and RULE THE ROOST is the best bit (in my 'umble opinion that is)

Might be my turn to shout for help tomorrow - Plan C being put into action (Plans a and b went out the window sometime during this afternoon)

[Bramble-Poultry]

do you want to borrow and indoor rabbit cage mo?

[di]

Can't believe I just spent an absolute age echoing Mo's post & being generally drunk on one beer telling you all how wonderful you are,only to go to post it & for some odd reason I'd been logged out!?
Basically wanted to Thank you all for all the support...Mo's right,you all deserve pats on the back,whether peeps feel they can offer advice or just support/sympathy/encouragement it's always here!
Matthew...you are a total star!!!!The eggs are now in the capable hands of your incubator...listening to them before I put them in,the first one made no sound,the second very slight grating noises and the third grating noises followed by a couple of faint cheeps...hoping they were faint because of all the energy used to break free!!!

Thanks Guys...& promise I'll try to have a stress free few months!....on the positive,there won't be many broody hen queries I can't answer next year!....please noone tell me there's more that could go wrong!

Apologies now for the beer talking(although in reality I think it just frees us up to say what we mean!)...Love you guys!!!xx