First we will be moving our horses (down to four!) to their winter field, and then the chicken coop gets it's winter vinyl wrap. Maybe both tomorrow? Probably not...
The bantam chicks from mid September are doing fine, feathered out, and ready to explore more at the coop. Free range? Scary...
Also, what type of feed, and are you checking the mill dates on each bag? All good advice already here, and stop feeding the cracked corn, it's yummy but not a complete feed, so should only be an occasional treat in limited amounts.
Do you have oyster shell and grit in separate containers out...
Welcome!
They are very close in age, so should be okay, unless the younger birds are tiny bantams, or there's a huge size difference.
Having them all move to a new brooder, so everyone is in a new space, helps a lot.
Disease issues? Anything that makes you nervous about this, is another...
Keep using the fenbendazole! Herbal products just don't do what's needed, not worth it at all.
Did you have a fecal test run? Then you will have a better idea what you are aiming for with your worming program.
I agree that the five day plan is best, and repeat in two weeks. Worming each...
I do have a light on in one section of my coop, and that's where all my birds want to roost, although they have two other roost locations, not lit. One 25w bulb up high on a timer, 4am to 8am every morning, all winter.
The little darlings are mostly through their fall molt, and some hens...
x3! And WELCOME, this is a fun and educational forum, hope you love it.
'Americanas' are actually crossbred birds, can be any color, better called 'Easter Eggers'. They are not the purebred Ameraucanas, who come in specific colors, and are more often bred by people who want specific looks...
How's the dating on your feed? Old feed will loose some vitamins, also some individual chicks may need higher than normal individual nutrients, a genetic problem.
A quality fresh feed will be fine for everyone, as long as a particular individual has a genetic issue.
And three week of age is way...
x2!!!
Also, is she emptying her crop? Abdomen 'sloshy'? It's more likely a serious health issue you can't fix, not something that adding 'magic suppliments' will help.
Mary
On the subject of 'names for colors', so not exactly a topic change: ORANGE, so often described as RED. People don't like calling any critter orange? I'm thinking dog especially.
Mary
You have pullets and a cockerel (hope it's only one!) and everyone is too young to know how they will all get along. Many of us have found that having actual hens(over one year old) can help civilize cockerels, and that's not who you have.
He might be wonderful, or not, and if you really don't...
Last time i looked, our MSU veterinary lab had no 'live bird' test for Marek's disease, so only necropsy results were available. Not useful without a sick/ dying bird!
We do our best with biosecurity, buy vaccinated chicks, and our home bred unvaccinated birds haven't had Marek's type issues, so...
Chicks need two to three weeks isolated from your birds and their environment so that they develop the protection from the Mareks' vaccine. If you want them right out with your flock, don't bother vaccinating them. Unless you are POSITIVE that you don't have Mareks disease out there.
Mary