2018 Newbie Chat!

[The_Miraculous_Pigmy_Owl]

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Some updated pictures..... The white Cochin

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Unknown, any ideas?

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Sicilian buttercup

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Blue copper marans, Lucifer

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Salmon favorolle

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Partridge Cochin

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Buff brahma

There is another unkown that wouldn't accommodate me today, so no picture. They are growing up so fast

the own known chick looks a lot like me young Americanana but I could be wrong ill post a pic but she is a little younger than yours

 

[The_Miraculous_Pigmy_Owl]

sorry she aint cooperating right now

 

[CannedMonster]

Oh no! I'd never be able to live with myself if that happened - I don't think I'll use the bathtub anymore, at least with the kiddies pools the chickens can stand up the water barely comes up to their butts.
The way I feel at the moment, I think its going to be a very long time until I brave letting Roo free range with that lot! - Midnight is my biggest worry, I just need Lilah to brave giving her a smack or two, Midnight isn't strong at all, but she's sneaky, she gets Lilah by the element of surprise and it works in making Lilah too scared and too confused to fight back - Midnight is only 10 weeks old Lilah could do her a lot of damage if she wanted to - not that I want her to - just need Lilah to realise that.
At a guess, how long do you think it might be until I can sleep them in the same hutch? Although the hutch is one hutch, it is two floors so I can let the chickens (or the ducks) out first, I'd probably hoof the ducks out of the run first and then let the chickens out in the run for a while. I'm hoping to encourage a split between the two flocks but at the moment Pedro and Jellybean are still sticking tight with the ducks.

You can make them do what you want, you know.
It’s your flock.
You are managing them.
When I let my babies out I have a stick that’s about 3.5 feet long.
It’s very thin but sturdy.
I don’t hit anyone with it.
I use it to control.
At most I will tap a bird to simulate a peck.
I also hit the ground with it.
Use it to guide them sometimes.
It’s very effective.
I need something to help me tell the big ones and the bantams I want them to move away from the babies or that they’re being too rough.
I do allow them to peck the babies to teach them pecking order but that’s it.
No relentless chasing, no singling out certain ones to bully.
Angus grabbed two different chicks on two different occasions and I tapped him good with the stick and chased him away.
Cricket has been targeting my little Australorp cockerel so I also gently guide her away or strongly tap the ground so she is distracted from him and moves away.
I believe they see me as the mother of the chicks.

So what I’m saying is...you can also show the ducks and chickens that you don’t like their behavior.
You don’t have to let them do whatever they want.
If you don’t like what Midnight is doing, sneaking up on someone or whatever, scare her away yourself.
Teach Midnight that you don’t like that behavior and YOU are the one in charge.
Instead of waiting for Lilah to give her a couple of smacks, do it yourself.
The humans are the real alphas.
Does that make sense?

 

[llombardo]

Well Aggie is a bit confused as to why she’s in there but she’s handling it okay.
And sweet Emily comes up and lays down right by her sister to give her company.
Angus also comes to check on her and stay nearby for a while.
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Thank you all for the kind words and advice.
I’m going to post in the emergency forum to see if any experienced peeps have additional advice on wound care.
I’ll post the wound photo there too.
Thankfully she’s a NN so she’s not heavily feathered on her belly and the feathers she does have cover the wound from dirt and flies.
I’m going to the vet with our cat tomorrow morning for her vaccinations and I’ll show him the photo of Aggie’s wound and ask what he thinks.
He will see chickens so if he feels it needs his attention I will bring her to the vet.
I’m not sure what he can do because the wound is a few days old now and I don’t think he can stitch it but we’ll see.

For metal wounds I would try coloidial silver and I would do a round of antiobiotics. . I do not see why it(coloidial silver)wouldn't be safe for chickens. I had a dog pull up crate wires and puncture his chest(just missed that heart and lung). I used the colidial silver. The vet couldn't believe how fast it healed.

Edit:
I just read more--the colliaidial silver can work on a bite also. I used it on myself for dog bites.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I’m a newbie. I got my Silkie flock (8)last summer but they were all older chicks between 8-15 weeks. I just incubated And brooding my first batch of chicks now. I hatched 9/12 of my flocks eggs on 1/18. All nine are doing well. I have them in a dog crate made brooder with a MHP for heat. Chicken math is a real thing and hatching is addictive! My husband talked me into setting another batch, so this morning I put another 12 in the bator. So as I’m integrating this batch into coop I’ll have newbies in the brooder. It will be chicks chicks everywhere chicks, I guess I’m a glutton for punishment.

I'm not ever going to get into breeding because I'd never be able to give them up and we are already running close to our full capacity with our 4 chickens and 4 ducks - must be a wonderful experience though.
We recently acquired a mother and her 2 week old chick, which is our first time experiencing mother and baby, is an awesome experience to say the least but I can't help envying people like yourself who get to hatch

 

[CannedMonster]

Ohhh Hun, what an awful time for you both - Would it not be worth taking her to the vet, I mean couldn't he do something for her? I know its very hard with birds, especially chickens but he might be able to do something? Shes proved herself as being a fighter and with you in her corner you're giving her a fighting chance.
Bless little Emily - I read in your other post that Angus has visited too - bless them both, lil darlings <3
I'm with you in praying she will recover xx
Do you have any antibiotics for her?

He’s willing to see her if I want to bring her.
I just may do that because it’s very hard to clean.
It was already trying to heal dirty by the time I even found out about it.
I don’t have the experience to know what I’m even looking at.
I think there’s still feathers stuck in it.
That’s not good.
If I had discovered the injury sooner I think it would’ve been easier to clean.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

You can make them do what you want, you know.
It’s your flock.
You are managing them.
When I let my babies out I have a stick that’s about 3.5 feet long.
It’s very thin but sturdy.
I don’t hit anyone with it.
I use it to control.
At most I will tap a bird to simulate a peck.
I also hit the ground with it.
Use it to guide them sometimes.
It’s very effective.
I need something to help me tell the big ones and the bantams I want them to move away from the babies or that they’re being too rough.
I do allow them to peck the babies to teach them pecking order but that’s it.
No relentless chasing, no singling out certain ones to bully.
Angus grabbed two different chicks on two different occasions and I tapped him good with the stick and chased him away.
Cricket has been targeting my little Australorp cockerel so I also gently guide her away or strongly tap the ground so she is distracted from him and moves away.
I believe they see me as the mother of the chicks.

So what I’m saying is...you can also show the ducks and chickens that you don’t like their behavior.
You don’t have to let them do whatever they want.
If you don’t like what Midnight is doing, sneaking up on someone or whatever, scare her away yourself.
Teach Midnight that you don’t like that behavior and YOU are the one in charge.
Instead of waiting for Lilah to give her a couple of smacks, do it yourself.
The humans are the real alphas.
Does that make sense?

Yes very much so! And I'm going to give it a go - I have a yard broom and just today I thought about sweeping Midnight away when I saw her sneaking up on Lilah but I was worried I'd be doing the wrong thing so I didn't - I'll use it to tap and discourage - Thank you - as always your advice is priceless - I want to get integration done and dusted asap - I want the chickens sleeping together by autumn - feel optimistic about this

 

[Anna Ranieri]

He’s willing to see her if I want to bring her.
I just may do that because it’s very hard to clean.
It was already trying to heal dirty by the time I even found out about it.
I don’t have the experience to know what I’m even looking at.
I think there’s still feathers stuck in it.
That’s not good.
If I had discovered the injury sooner I think it would’ve been easier to clean.

Yes, I think so too, I also think where the wound is makes it harder. I must admit, when I saw the picture you posted and the instructions the vet had given you, I was like, where the heck do you even start! I wouldn't have a clue! I admire you for giving it a go, and your bravery. I am with you in hoping she pulls through - how does she seem in herself since you have been treating her?

 

[CannedMonster]

Yes very much so! And I'm going to give it a go - I have a yard broom and just today I thought about sweeping Midnight away when I saw her sneaking up on Lilah but I was worried I'd be doing the wrong thing so I didn't - I'll use it to tap and discourage - Thank you - as always your advice is priceless - I want to get integration done and dusted asap - I want the chickens sleeping together by autumn - feel optimistic about this

I would discourage using a broom.
Just because they are more frightened by a larger object.
I’ve used brooms and rakes and they became quite frightened.
ALL of them. It upset everyone.
I find the long skinny stick gets the point across without scaring the whole flock.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I would discourage using a broom.
Just because they are more frightened by a larger object.
I’ve used brooms and rakes and they became quite frightened.
ALL of them. It upset everyone.
I find the long skinny stick gets the point across without scaring the whole flock.

Thank you - again brilliant advice as usual - I don't have a thin stick but I should be able to find and cut a thin and sturdy enough branch off one of my trees. I'm a bit wary of poking them, scared I'll poke too hard, could you advise on how not to poke too hard please?
How to know its not too hard