2018 Newbie Chat!

[No More Empty Nest]

My sick Orpington may not survive the night.
I took it out of the brooder to check it and noticed some pasty diarrhea so I took it in to clean it up.
As I was doing that I noticed the chick has some sort of scab on it’s abdomen.
I think it might have an infected umbilical.
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She’s so very weak. I can tell she hasn’t eaten all day. Empty crop.
I gave her a couple of drops of Nutri Drench.

I'm so sorry she's doing poorly. Poor little thing. So sad. I hope she gathers strength and pulls through.

 

[Cbarr00]

Thank you so much for the support and encouragement, I'm sorry for taking so long to reply but I'm sure you can understand it has been very hard for me and my family.
Ducks are doing great, they travelled very well. The vet had told us they needed to have eaten before they travelled but as we left at 4 AM they hadn't eaten much although they had food in their duck house they had been sleeping. I put food, water, fresh veg and a few treats in the travel cage with them and although scared still ate and drank well throughout the journey and we only had to make a couple of quick stops to refill their water and with roads so clear we got to the sanctuary in just a little over four and a half hours.
All four had to have one wing clipped just to make sure they don't fly out of their pen, Runners aren't supposed to fly but both mine can. They will soon start their spring moult so might have to have them clipped again in a couple of weeks but won't need to anymore after that as they will have established this is their new home.
It was difficult and distressing to begin with as the drakes being frightened kept coming over to me for comfort and reassurance so I just kept talking soothingly to them which calmed them then in as little as 20 or so minutes they went off with their girls to explore. I was amazed at how quickly they settled in and in no time they all looked as though they had lived there all their lives.
We had some giggles over how they took over the place, they had decided they are boss of the place and let all the other ducks and chickens know that.
The Chuckery had another drake at the time which worried me but the owner kindly put him in the duck house to give our birds time to adjust and now they are the head ducks already!
I was worried about the fact that new birds come in and go out constantly and apart from a goose and the owners personal chickens, our ducks are the only permanent residence, which I worry how they will cope with such quick changes of birds around them but so far they are doing well. The ducks that were there at the time have now gone and there are four new ducks brought in yesterday - two drakes and two ducks but the owners posted us pictures and I can see they are still doing very well.
These people are amazing, the work they do is fantastic. We have an animal protection organisation over here called the RSPCA, they are responsible for the welfare of all animals in the UK and a lot of the birds and animals the sanctuary take in have been seized by the RSPCA for various reasons, some stories we were told are quite harrowing and I really don't understand why or how people can be so cruel but once in the care of The Chuckery, they are nursed, tendered to then found good homes which are vetted and have to meet approval before they can take any of the birds and animals up for rehoming.
On the whole, at not being able to keep our ducks ourselves we are happy for them being in such a lovely place being looked after by two very dedicated and caring people.
The owners told us they view themselves as having fostered our ducks and if our circumstances ever change no matter how many years we can have them back at any time, even though it is highly doubtful we will ever have them again.
Visiting is permitted and there are no restrictions so my daughter and I are planning to visit them next year and hope to visit them yearly.
The Chuckery is a lovely place, the owners are lovely and care so deeply for all the animals under their care, plus the duck area is far more exciting for the ducks than what we had here ( is about the same size as our garden so has plenty of room, even when more ducks are bought in). Although very hard for us, knowing how well they are being looked after as well as how quickly they settled in, how homely the place is and the way our ducks went around as though they own the place was what I needed to be able to get in the van and leave. We miss them tremendously and I keep texting the owners asking how they are, asking loads of questions and telling them my worries but they don't mind, they are very patient and understanding.
Lastly, I asked what happens if for any reason they give up The Chuckery to which they have assured me they will contact me even if it's years from now and give me the option to take them back or rehome them myself.
So glad we took them there. Will post a short video later so you can see them on their first day there.
Thank you again with all my heart for your care and support

It sounds like such a good place. I understand you taking some absence from here. I'm so sorry it came down to this but it truly sounds like you have made the best choice for them and it came from your heart. I've followed the page and it seems like such a happy place for them to be able to go around as they please. The fact that the owners are putting your mind at ease and understanding lets me know you made the best decision possible under the circumstances given. Sending big hugs to you!

 

[Cbarr00]

I wish I had known before getting mine too. I’m going to sell her this year as I’m really not impressed with the breed. For being the “friendliest” breed out there, mine is just an awful bird. I had a lavender Orp that I culled in the summer. I’ll never get another barred rock or Orpington ever again. Australorps and Welsummer are my favorite breeds now. Hardy, great egg layers. Non confrontational, lowest in the pecking order, and great confined or free ranged. I hope yours pulls through.

Why not barred rock? My FIL really likes the looks of those. Since he's disabled I don't want to get any that might be more trouble than their worth for him.

 

[Cbarr00]

My sick Orpington may not survive the night.
I took it out of the brooder to check it and noticed some pasty diarrhea so I took it in to clean it up.
As I was doing that I noticed the chick has some sort of scab on it’s abdomen.
I think it might have an infected umbilical.
View attachment 1693218
View attachment 1693219

She’s so very weak. I can tell she hasn’t eaten all day. Empty crop.
I gave her a couple of drops of Nutri Drench.

I hope things turn around for her. Last year I had one who was not doing well at all. I found her laying too weak to stand. Could barely open her eyes had pasty butt and spent a whole day with her feeding and watering and she turned around. I had a sonogram that day and she had to ride with me so I could keep an eye on her. I was able to put her back out with the flock that night. I named her Patsy with the Pasty butt. Lol.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

Why not barred rock? My FIL really likes the looks of those. Since he's disabled I don't want to get any that might be more trouble than their worth for him.

Most problematic breed I’ve had. I had one try to roost in an impossible spot and she broke her leg in three places, had to cull her. They’ve all gotten bumblefoot. Messy eggs every single time. I’ve had one bite me and draw blood. Huge combs so if you live in a cold climate they are prone to frost bite. All of these problems occurred in just one single year of having them. Won’t ever get them again.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

And we have our first external pip!

 

[PNW_Peepers]

External pip #2

External pip #1 has still yet to zip.

 

[CannedMonster]

Sadly the little Orpington didn’t survive.
I just think there may have been something wrong internally.
I’m going to look for a few more LF chicks to put with the remaining Orpington because I plan to separate the bantam chicks out.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

Sadly the little Orpington didn’t survive.
I just think there may have been something wrong internally.
I’m going to look for a few more LF chicks to put with the remaining Orpington because I plan to separate the bantam chicks out.

I’m so sorry for your loss @ChooksNQuilts I’m sure you did everything you could for it.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

External pip #3

One of the chicks is very noisy, meaning it’s lungs are developed enough to take in oxygen. It’s only a matter of time!!!