If a feed is made at a local feed mill, it could be of good quality, but without a guaranteed analysis, there is no way to assure the nutritional value.
Much more important is the age of the feed. That means the mill date on either the seal, the guaranteed analysis tag or some other place where...
Have you any evidence they had coccidiosis?
Since you have lost 4 birds to the same condition, my advice is to send this bird to your state poultry lab for a humane euthanasia and necropsy. That is the only way to know for sure what you are dealing with. This will give you a plan of attack so...
While they do detect color and have excellent eyesight, I've raised hundreds of broods with hens of solid colors and various mixes. I never detected that they really cared about the color of the chicks. Most birds are like that. Many species of birds will raise a chick from a cuckoo egg...
Depending on where you live, I doubt animal control is the right agency. They usually only do dogs and cats. I think you are looking for your department of conversation or the wildlife service.
At that age it needs some higher protein. Like scrambled eggs, crickets, mealworms, etc. Some seeds...
Most likely, she abandoned the final egg because she may know it isn't viable. Even if it is viable, once chicks have been hatched for a couple days, she will leave the nest to care for the live chicks. (a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush) In nature, survivability is never 100%. Animals...
OK, try to remember that hens have been incubating, hatching, brooding and raising chicks for a million years without human i intervention. There have always been other birds in the flock. When all raised together, the mother will protect the chicks from all comers. If she doesn't, she isn't a...
That's the spirit and content is what you want to see.
Just sit back and observe.
Overthinking it is common. I never cleaned feces. I just had enough shavings and would then compost them every 3 to 6 months depending on stocking density. However, I never packed birds in like sardines either.
I wouldn't worry about what it looks like inside. It is important to have sufficient humidity that the inner membrane doesn't dry and stiffen once pipped.
You should have a vent open because at this point they need more oxygen. What do the incubator instructions say?
You are right not to trust...
No ivermectin. The problem isn't worms. It is protozoal. They likely have a large amount of coccidia populating the gut. Get some Corid (amprolium). I prefer liquid. Feed stores carry it.
It isn't an antibiotic or anthelmintic. It is a thiamine blocker.
Also keep the bedding bone dry and feeders...
I admire your efforts to do what is right. However, you may be overthinking it. Chickens are easy. Every bit of feces doesn't have to disappear. It mixes with the shavings and decomposes. With 2 chickens it shouldn't be a problem. High stocking densities cause problems. Your chickens are more...
I agree with your statement in the first paragraph. Yes, e coli is common in the gut of animals, including humans. And yes baccilus subtilis is good gut bacteria. Neither of which I would consider related to a real problem. What did the vet say about it?
Are you providing sufficient grit the...
The following link has Dorking chicks at the bottom of the page but no reds.
https://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Dorks/BRKDorks.html
Your mention of 5 toes reminded me of an exchange I had with friends from up north who got chicks from Sandhill.
This refers back to my statement in my last...
Can you post pictures of the unknowns?
I only bought from Sandhill once and that was many years ago. Back then they had assortments at the end of summer. Most were listed but like yours, there were some mysteries. With those assortments, they assembled from what were still laying late season. I...
RIRs are a great breed, in a RIR flock. They tend to be the bullies of a mixed flock and can be problematic to the point that I don't recommend combining them with other breeds. Especially docile ones.
You could try some Blu-kote or similar product on pecked areas.
How many bullies and how many...
I have 2 disparate thoughts on this.
Chicks and ducklings at feed stores in bins, if not closely monitored by employees can have chicks picked up by people and replaced into different bins. This frequently happens. Plus, when the shipment arrives, it requires the employees to have due diligence...