I thought I'd just say, "Hey!" We decided to get chickens a few weeks ago and I have absolutely fell in love with them. It's shocking how much I love my babies. Even more than my poor dog! We built a coop that will hold 6 chickens but I'm already thinking of where to put the next one and eventually life on a farm where I can have some of those handsome roosters. There are so many breeds that look fun to have. I guess six will have to do for now. I've got 5 kids and a wonderful husband. So far we have a 1 1/2 week old buckeye and white marans and 2, 4 week old black sex links. I've got my eyes set on an easter egger and a silver laced wyandotte.
I'm having trouble with the buckeye and it makes me so sad. Last Saturday I noticed she had pasted up so I cleaned her off and put her back in with the others. A while later I noticed she was off by herself all puffed up and falling over asleep. I thought she was going to die that night. I separated her and made a mix of molasses and water and some mash. I dipped her beak a few times and got her to drink. Then I cried. I just knew I was going to wake up to a dead baby chick. She made it through the night and seemed perky the next day. The water and food was gone. I put her back in with the others and she ate and drank and pooped although it continued to stick to her rear. I went ahead and treated them all with Corid. She's still with us but doesn't seem to be growing anymore. She's fat but still looks like she's only a couple days old. She chirps all the time and seems weak and sleepy. She is always trying to climb under the older chicks. Right now she is sitting on my lap on a heating pad. She seems comfortable now. (No peeping and asleep) The brooder thermometer reads about 97*. I'm afraid to turn it down because of this little one. Hopefully she can pull through.
Well, I guess that's the end of my ramblings. I'm excited to have found this group and to learn about chicken husbandry.
