2018 Newbie Chat!

[Anna Ranieri]

We put her in with the others last night. She’s weaker than the others, but they love her and have been snuggling her. DH wants to name her Lazarus or Frankenstein. As she was pretty much dead and brought her back to life.

Lazarus would be so cool imo

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Now you have some of Wally’s babies.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Now you have some of Wally’s babies.

@PNW_Peepers I've been searching to see if there's any updates on Wally's condition but haven't been able to find anything - for some reason I don't always get all the posts so forgive me if you have already updated - but if not, would like to know if he pulled through?

 

[PNW_Peepers]

@PNW_Peepers I've been searching to see if there's any updates on Wally's condition but haven't been able to find anything - for some reason I don't always get all the posts so forgive me if you have already updated - but if not, would like to know if he pulled through?

We made an emergency trip to a TSC an hour away late last night. We bought Tylan 200 and treated Wally after finding the baby. We have to treat him 2x daily for 5 days. Today he has improved immensely. He’s not out of the woods, but he’s feisty today, and his breathing sounds much better! I have an Avian vet working me through it day by day.

 

[No More Empty Nest]

I was out of town for a couple days, so much to catch up on! Welcome to everyone new! All your chicks are adorable.
Mine are growing so fast, 3 1/2 weeks old. So cute and so funny. Amber was always the skittish one, hated being held and ran away. But since I've been giving them some treats, I'm her best buddy. She runs up to my hand, jumps on my lap, too funny.
I have a question about my cochin bantam, all of mine are bantams. She is developing a lot slower than the others, took a long time to get wing feathers and she still has the least feathers of the 5. I've read that cochins are like that, has that been anyone's experience also? I have a couple pictures, first one is Pearl, she was my pale yellow chick, she now looks like she's first cousin to a bald eagle, haha. Second one is Amber, she's so goofy looking with her head feathers coming in.

That's Diamond the cochin next to her

 

[Cbarr00]

@PNW_Peepers found this thread so maybe hope after all!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/candling-eggs-day-21.51440/

 

[Anna Ranieri]

We made an emergency trip to a TSC an hour away late last night. We bought Tylan 200 and treated Wally after finding the baby. We have to treat him 2x daily for 5 days. Today he has improved immensely. He’s not out of the woods, but he’s feisty today, and his breathing sounds much better! I have an Avian vet working me through it day by day.

Ohhhh this is wonderfully positive news! I have kept him in my prayers and thoughts and his recovery is an answer to pray I would be very much overjoyed about. It is both heartwarming and encouraging how much care, love and attention you give to all your birds and especially for dear Wally. I will continue to pray for you and Wally and would very much appreciate you keeping us posted on his progress. Thank you so much for informing me

 

[PNW_Peepers]

I’ll definately keep you all informed on Wally and his progress. I hope he continues to improve! I’ll also keep you all informed on the remaining egg that’s under my broody. I’m going to wait it out, it didn’t smell. Mom is convinced it’s good (so good she gave up on the hatched babies). What a whacky year this has been, chicken keeping isn’t for the faint of heart. But I wouldn’t have it any other way! Thankful for you guys!

 

[CannedMonster]

Ah I see, she has stopped being Roo's mum - makes sense now why she isn't protecting Roo anymore.
Roo has been free ranging with them all for a week now. I followed your advice as you said I should wait till Roo was 3wks which I did and with Lilah protecting her it worked well. I haven't stopped from free ranging Roo with the others it is only for sleep time I segregate them -
I let the birds out at 7:30 each morning because most people including neighbours are up by then. I have a spot in my garden where I give them their treats, the routine is that I open up Lilah/Roo's cage they follow me out and wait at the treat spot, I go let the others out and give them their morning treat together (it was at this point 2 days ago that Jellybean attacked Roo) when they are done they do their own thing.
Lilah still chases Pedro although she doesn't attack her, Pedro is scared of her as is Jellybean so Lilah is now the boss - Jellybean has always been the lowest but I guess Roo is now.
There has been a shift in the ducks pecking order too since the arrival of Lilah and Roo - Jughead has taken over from Napoleon as head of flock and he is also alpha over all the chickens too (as Napoleon was until he took over) it is confusing because the ducks still see and treat Pedro as alpha female even though Lilah is now the alpha of the chickens.
I know you are right about them being fully integrated but I just don't have the guts, I am not prepared to take the risk, I have never seen Jellybean act the way she did that day, she has always been the most softest, most placid and most picked on, she's never acted before the way she does with Roo and I do not trust that Roo wouldn't get seriously injured or killed especially if the two gang up on her. We are having to go out a lot lately as my dad is seriously ill in hospital, when I lock them in their run, I put Lilah and Roo in the hutch so they and the others can still see each other, just can't touch each other.
We are at the stage now that we will go inside for short periods whilst the birds are free ranging but since the attack if I need to be indoors for a while, I put Lilah and Roo in the run and the others out but Pedro has realised that if Roo gets close to the pheasant wire she can peck her through it.
Roo often hides behind plant pots I have in my garden, there are two in the run which are placed upturned in corners as the girls like to use them as roosts, Roo ran behind one in an attempt to hide and got stuck Pedro saw this as an opportunity to peck Roo through the wire - obviously I didn't let that happen - but it showed me they would go to great lengths to get at her, they knew the moment Lilah was no longer protecting Roo and both went straight for her but it was Jellybean who caught her and took a chunk out of her that day.
Pedro and Jellybean are beautiful, as pets they are wonderful but I don't trust they wouldn't kill Roo if they had the chance.
The ducks have a go at Roo also but the most they do is give a little nip, I don't let them but at least I know if they get Roo that's the worst they'd do, they nip at Lilah and push her around as they do Jellybean, I don't like it but I don't interfere because it is the pecking order and no one gets hurt, but I don't trust Jellybean and Pedro not to kill or maim Roo so I am not going to sleep Roo in with them until (s)he is a lot bigger than (s)he is now and because (s)he cries for Lilah I am going to keep Lilah with her as long as Lilah doesn't turn on Roo too.
I can see Lilah is ready to sleep in with the others, but Roo get too distressed without Lilah so I'm keeping them together - I get that Lilah isn't mum anymore but to Roo she still is, Roo is beautiful I am hoping with all my heart Roo is female and that I get to keep all my birds.
We do have a few ideas we want to try, one is that I shut the four chickens and myself in the run for periods of time each day, that way I am on hand for when the girls try to attack Roo, also if Lilah gets too violent with the girls as there is nowhere for them to get away from her in the run if she does, and maybe I can encourage an integration without risk or a blood bath, but I would appreciate your take on this please and any suggestions you might have to offer?

Why do you think they’ll attack Roo at night?
Chickens can’t see at night.
They don’t do any of that stuff.
If there’s still a little bit of light they will peck sometimes so having plenty of space for lower ranking birds to get away is important.
This is all normal behavior.
You only need to worry if Roo gets cornered or blood is drawn.
Is Jellybean chasing relentlessly or just pecking Roo away from food?
Constant human intervention can make it take longer also.
When integrating you actually need more space than for a flock that’s already used to each other.
With chickens it’s all about resources: food, water, treats.
Jellybean is the lowest on the pecking order and that’s usually the bird that harasses the new ones the most.
The lowest one doesn’t want to lose their place so they make sure the new ones always know that they’re higher.
One thing a lot of people have said is that younger, smaller birds are less of a threat to the resources.
But it sounds like you may not have that much space and that can cause more aggression.
Regardless, Roo needs places where she get get out of sight of anyone being aggressive.
It can be as simple as a few sheets of plywood leaned up against a wall or fence.
There should also be multiple feeders and waterers so the more dominant birds can’t guard them all.
I’m concerned about the ducks.
I don’t know a lot about them but I know the males can be very determined when they reach sexual maturity.
I’ve heard they’ll try to breed chickens if they don’t have enough females for each male.

I would try to put all the chickens together as much as possible until Roo is bigger.
My babies are over 2 months old now and they’re about half the size of the full grown pullets now.
They have plenty of space to get away, hide behind things and get out of sight but they still get pecked sometimes.
One of my Speckled Sussex is always right in there with the adults and earlier today Angus pecked her really hard.
She screamed loudly but just ran away a few feet and started eating mealworms again.
I guess just wait until Roo is older and bigger.

 

[Anna Ranieri]

Why do you think they’ll attack Roo at night?
Chickens can’t see at night.
They don’t do any of that stuff.
If there’s still a little bit of light they will peck sometimes so having plenty of space for lower ranking birds to get away is important.
This is all normal behavior.
You only need to worry if Roo gets cornered or blood is drawn.
Is Jellybean chasing relentlessly or just pecking Roo away from food?
Constant human intervention can make it take longer also.
When integrating you actually need more space than for a flock that’s already used to each other.
With chickens it’s all about resources: food, water, treats.
Jellybean is the lowest on the pecking order and that’s usually the bird that harasses the new ones the most.
The lowest one doesn’t want to lose their place so they make sure the new ones always know that they’re higher.
One thing a lot of people have said is that younger, smaller birds are less of a threat to the resources.
But it sounds like you may not have that much space and that can cause more aggression.
Regardless, Roo needs places where she get get out of sight of anyone being aggressive.
It can be as simple as a few sheets of plywood leaned up against a wall or fence.
There should also be multiple feeders and waterers so the more dominant birds can’t guard them all.
I’m concerned about the ducks.
I don’t know a lot about them but I know the males can be very determined when they reach sexual maturity.
I’ve heard they’ll try to breed chickens if they don’t have enough females for each male.

I would try to put all the chickens together as much as possible until Roo is bigger.
My babies are over 2 months old now and they’re about half the size of the full grown pullets now.
They have plenty of space to get away, hide behind things and get out of sight but they still get pecked sometimes.
One of my Speckled Sussex is always right in there with the adults and earlier today Angus pecked her really hard.
She screamed loudly but just ran away a few feet and started eating mealworms again.
I guess just wait until Roo is older and bigger.

Thank you so very very much, this has enlightened me a great deal and you have given me some ideas on how I might get them through this.
On the whole my flocks are peaceful, these attacks are sporadic and don't seem to have any pattern.
Roo has plenty of space to hide when free ranging and in the actual run and sometimes she will hide but she is so insistent on following Lilah and tries to run under her but Lilah just continues foraging, so she leaves herself wide open for attacks.
There are numerous plant pots which only she is small enough to squeeze behind, there boxes and crates big enough for Roo to get in but too small for the others, there loads of hidey holes she could use but she won't leave Lilah, that is the biggest problem, she won't move from Lilah.
So far today hasn't been too bad neither hens have gone for Roo so far and its almost 2 pm here - earlier Lilah went into the nest box to lay another egg, Roo panicked b'cos (s)he couldn't find her, Roo was in the middle of the lawn bawling her eyes out but the others took no notice and eventually Roo came and hid under my chair. The birds have a favourite spot under my grandsons trampoline its about 8 foot or more, so plenty of space for them all, a couple of hours ago Roo was under there too and nobody bothered her, plus I haven't had to use the stick at all today so far so I am hoping this is a good sign, most of the time its like that but then Boom!.
I have given up on trying to get Pedro and Jellybean to roost, they are insistent about sleeping in the nesting compartment and a vet has advised me it won't do them any harm so I've given up. I poop pick everyday between complete clean outs and the two eggs Lilah has laid in there both are spotless, so I'm leaving the girls be.
I'm worried about in the hutch because, the hutch they sleep in is big enough for four chickens, a food dish and a water dish but it is a rabbit hutch so there isn't any hidey holes, there is room for Roo to run around with them all in there but that's it and because I don't let them out until 7:30 it is still getting light earlier than that, so I'm worried they might pick on her then. My reason for letting them out so late is because I can't risk noise pollution, given that I am battling to keep them after having a noise complaint etc but the noise is and has been between the unrestricted noise time which over here is 7 am to 9 pm, so might go in my favour but if I let them out earlier they will include that in the case against me. I wait till 7:30 am before letting them out because most my neighbours are up by them but not at 7 am - all my birds are fine with it, Lilah and Roo are accustomed to it now and the others have had it that way for months so is routine to them. I am just being careful.
As for the ducks, it is more Lilah and Jellybean they go for and it is the females not the males who go after them and it is mainly Midnight who does the most, but they never bite. I know so very little - I know the duck hens don't like when Lilah gets too close to their swimming pools and water trays, nor if she gets too close to their boys, sometimes Roo gets it because she is with Lilah and follows her around all the time. As for Jellybean she does tend to steal their treats and will do so straight out of the ducks mouths, she also gets moved on by them so they can sit/nap in the spot she is in and sometimes I've seen them push her even when shes done nothing, one time she was napping on her favourite upturned plant pot and one of the ducks just shoved her off - they can't get up on them, they don't use them at all, so I have no idea why other than thinking sometimes they do it just because they can. But the ducks never bite, that is the only saving grace I have is they never bite.
I have 2 kiddie pools for the ducks, I have a total of 8 water dispenses and 7 feeders (one broke and needs replacing - just waiting for payday on tue) - do you think I should have more?
I know about males trying to mate chickens as I have read about it but I also know it depends on the drakes, not all do it and I know of plenty of people who's drakes don't, so I am hoping about mine, however, mine are not at sexual maturity yet so I won't know how mine will be until next mating season which is spring.
It was our plan to extend before then and separate the two flocks into a run each and is the whole reason I got Lilah and Roo in the first place so I could have 2 flocks of 4 - with this complaint having been about us having the run as well as having the birds, we dare not add anything else, the situation is too delicate for us to take such a risk.
I have talked with many in the duck forums on here and I have had some brilliant advice and ideas/solutions from the duck experts on BYC ( so thankful for all you knowledgeable people, you especially, ) and through all the advice/ideas and help etc, we have been able to devise a plan should we have problems with the drakes during mating season - we will do like we did with Lilah and Roo - ducks locked in the run while chickens free range, swap over after a decent time, - chickens in run, ducks free ranging - then swap again and keep rotating through out the day so they all get a fare share of free ranging and b'cos they sleep separately and can't get to each other night time won't be a problem thank goodness.
In the case of the two duck hens not being enough for the boys, our original plan was to get two more hens for them but can't do that now because of the complaint and we can't risk anything jeopardising our case. but if it happens that the duck hens are being over mated, we have decided we will give the girls respite by letting them out with the chickens, boys in the run etc and control how much time the drakes get with the ducks and at night we will sleep the boys in here with us until mating season over and they have completed their molt which is when they turn back into nice guys.
On the whole mine are a peaceful flock, I gave them a treat of bananas about an hour ago they have eaten them and are now napping under the trampoline, including Lilah and Roo, no one is after anyone all is peaceful.
I am going to note down each attack, where they are when it happens, what time, how often, whats happening, exactly who is there and what is around them, to see if I can make any sense of it, b'cos no two days are alike, yesterday I had to use the stick numerous times and today not once which is great but is also confusing
You and your advice means tons to me, you help me loads and help me to find a light through a dark tunnel, as always you have given me great advice and helping me to see things clearer, thank you wholeheartedly