- Aug 21, 2014
- 27
- 2
- 26
Hi all - just joined. Had chickens as a young girl living on a farm... am now in my 40s and trying to pick it up again. Wow! So much to learn!
We went on vacation a few weeks ago and came home to two hens gone broody on a mix of different eggs... we have 2 Australorps, 1 BCM, 1 Buff Brahma, 1 Wellsummer, 2 bantams and a rooster of unknown age or breed - although he really looks like a BCM.
The BCM's eggs hatced over the weekend, and the Buff Brahma's started hatching on Sunday night. Unortunately, my 6yo DS got anxious and pulled the BB off her nest so she and her 5 chickies coud be with the other group... well... there was one very small chick with her (#5) and one JUST hatched (#6). Not sure how long she was off - but I threw her back on the nest as soon as I found out the offense. Got an incubator up and running in case she got off again... which happened a few hours later. I put the newly hatched one in, thinking it was a gonner. It was a "sticky" chick (hence my username!) and had about a 1/2" diameter shell stuck to it's backside and leg. I ran it under warm water till the eggshell could come off and put it in the incubator. It looked deformed and kept going around in circles for hours, but finally got up and balanced on both legs! It looks wet, but is dry. I've tried giving it a bath, but it hasn't helped much.
Then I went back out to check on the others. #5 didn't look well at all. It was up and getting around... but would sit and peep alot. The mama was trying to keep it warm, but would get up to show on occasion and the little one was getting stepped on and looking a little "flattened". So I put it in the incubator with the other for company and so it could keep warm without getting hurt.
Well... after some research and watching how #5 is walking - it seems it has a splayed leg or slipped achilles. I called the vet who doesn't do chickens, but has some - he said give it a few days, it may work itself out. I think it's getting worse. So I've hobbled it and I'm making sure it's getting food. It can get around still - but tires out really quickly.
I've now got them both in a comfortable brooder and will see how it goes.
Anyway, we have 10 healthy chicks! Will do my best to care for the other two... but it's kinda tough with my job. I already took an entire day yesterday to get everyone settled down... we're going on vacation next week and will already be working gobs of overtime to be able to leave... <sigh> will take the 2 with us in the brooder so we can make sure they are watched all day. Good thing we aren't going far!!!
We went on vacation a few weeks ago and came home to two hens gone broody on a mix of different eggs... we have 2 Australorps, 1 BCM, 1 Buff Brahma, 1 Wellsummer, 2 bantams and a rooster of unknown age or breed - although he really looks like a BCM.
The BCM's eggs hatced over the weekend, and the Buff Brahma's started hatching on Sunday night. Unortunately, my 6yo DS got anxious and pulled the BB off her nest so she and her 5 chickies coud be with the other group... well... there was one very small chick with her (#5) and one JUST hatched (#6). Not sure how long she was off - but I threw her back on the nest as soon as I found out the offense. Got an incubator up and running in case she got off again... which happened a few hours later. I put the newly hatched one in, thinking it was a gonner. It was a "sticky" chick (hence my username!) and had about a 1/2" diameter shell stuck to it's backside and leg. I ran it under warm water till the eggshell could come off and put it in the incubator. It looked deformed and kept going around in circles for hours, but finally got up and balanced on both legs! It looks wet, but is dry. I've tried giving it a bath, but it hasn't helped much.
Then I went back out to check on the others. #5 didn't look well at all. It was up and getting around... but would sit and peep alot. The mama was trying to keep it warm, but would get up to show on occasion and the little one was getting stepped on and looking a little "flattened". So I put it in the incubator with the other for company and so it could keep warm without getting hurt.
Well... after some research and watching how #5 is walking - it seems it has a splayed leg or slipped achilles. I called the vet who doesn't do chickens, but has some - he said give it a few days, it may work itself out. I think it's getting worse. So I've hobbled it and I'm making sure it's getting food. It can get around still - but tires out really quickly.
I've now got them both in a comfortable brooder and will see how it goes.
Anyway, we have 10 healthy chicks! Will do my best to care for the other two... but it's kinda tough with my job. I already took an entire day yesterday to get everyone settled down... we're going on vacation next week and will already be working gobs of overtime to be able to leave... <sigh> will take the 2 with us in the brooder so we can make sure they are watched all day. Good thing we aren't going far!!!
and Welcome To BYC! Congratulations on the successful hatch, hope the two late chicks straighten out. TwoCrows gave you some good suggestions. Not sure if you have seen it but there is a nice website on leg problems in chicks 
