2018 Newbie Chat!

[Anna Ranieri]

WoW! What awesome pictures! I love having a background like that. And such cute chicks too!

Well, I am cautiously optimistic about Amber's head getting pecked at. I used the Rooster Booster anti feather picking product on her and the pecking has decreased remarkably. They will occasionally take a feeble peck, like a taste, and shake their heads like yuk yuk! Then rub their beaks on the ground. More often then that one of them will eye her head like she's about to peck but then think better of it and turn away. One even looked at Amber's head, shook her own head and wiped her beak as if remembering, lol.
AND she has tiny white feathers showing in the purple area! The Rooster Booster product is purple. I immediately turned those little pinpoints of white to purple, don't want to tempt anyone, haha. I watched them on the roost when they went in to take a nap, not a single peck but Opal and Pearl eyed her once or twice and then turned away. No problem when they are grouped together pecking at the ground or when eating. All bad times for pecking her yesterday.
I also left the two kale plants I bought for them inside the run. They may be getting a bit more kale than before, but it gives them all something to peck and pull at. They still eat plenty of chick food too.

So glad the rooster booster is working

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I have a Buff pullet, here’s a photo of her at five weeks. View attachment 1540300

Ohhh gosh - Roo has way more feathers than your pullet and yours has a way slimmer face and they even have different colour eyes - makes me think even more that Roo is male, but I hope with all my heart Roo is female

 

[Anna Ranieri]

I have a Buff pullet, here’s a photo of her at five weeks. View attachment 1540300

P.S. Judging by my pictures what do you think Roo is?

 

[Geranium]

Hey I noticed a few of your chicks have
leg bands. Get some fingernail clippers and cut that sucker off. If you don’t do it soon it’ll cut into the little ones leg and you may have to cull them! I’d do it today. They look tight already!

They're elastic ones I put on - not the size that came from the hatchery. They're still loose, I promise! I have the next couple sizes up to switch out when I need to.

 

[Geranium]

Leg bands

 

[PNW_Peepers]

They're elastic ones I put on - not the size that came from the hatchery. They're still loose, I promise! I have the next couple sizes up to switch out when I need to.

Awesome! You’re on top of it. Sorry for jumping to conclusions there. I’m sure those help a ton in telling them apart!

 

[Geranium]

Awesome! You’re on top of it. Sorry for jumping to conclusions there. I’m sure those help a ton in telling them apart!

No worries! I appreciate the concern. Blue came with a band from the hatchery and it was amazing how fast she grew out of it! And yeah, I can't tell the two BOs or the three Australorps apart without them.

 

[Geranium]

So I took the chicks out for about an hour today in their chick pen. They had shade and water but it was 93 degrees out. When it was time to come in, I opened the pen door and everyone ran up to me except Candice, who was lying in the corner - looked like she was brooding. She looks hurt or sick. She's usually the most active but was just lying in my hand. Her legs and wings move normally. I don't see anything obviously wrong. Once we got inside she had two stools that were almost just water. I mixed up some electrolyte water and put it in the brooder. Candice was walking around and ate a little, but is now lying down again with her eyes closed. She was totally fine and then she wasn't. I didn't see anything happen but there are red ants in the yard. Did she get overheated? Did she get bitten by something? What can I do? The other chicks are acting completely normal.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

So I took the chicks out for about an hour today in their chick pen. They had shade and water but it was 93 degrees out. When it was time to come in, I opened the pen door and everyone ran up to me except Candice, who was lying in the corner - looked like she was brooding. She looks hurt or sick. She's usually the most active but was just lying in my hand. Her legs and wings move normally. I don't see anything obviously wrong. Once we got inside she had two stools that were almost just water. I mixed up some electrolyte water and put it in the brooder. Candice was walking around and ate a little, but is now lying down again with her eyes closed. She was totally fine and then she wasn't. I didn't see anything happen but there are red ants in the yard. Did she get overheated? Did she get bitten by something? What can I do? The other chicks are acting completely normal.View attachment 1540424

Post in emergencies thread. Give lots of details. More common than not chicks who act fine and then aren’t have mareks disease. Or have coccidiosis. Get some nutridrench it has saved many chicks that have been listless or sick for me!

 

[Geranium]

Post in emergencies thread. Give lots of details. More common than not chicks who act fine and then aren’t have mareks disease. Or have coccidiosis. Get some nutridrench it has saved many chicks that have been listless or sick for me!

She's 11 days, vaccinated for Mareks, and has never seen a chicken besides her hatch mates, who were also vaccinated. By bedtime she was walking around, but favoring her left leg, so i'm thinking maybe a bug bit her...