Adopting Abused Flock - NEED HELP!

[PeachStreet]

First of all, thank you to everyone who took a moment of their time to help me or give me encouraging words. Even though I haven't given you an update your kind and helpful words have kept me going. Here's a picture of our coop/flock just a week after they arrived. The little one out front is the one that was nearly trampled to death the first time I fed them. She/he (I'm not sure??) was so helpless and weak. Now she's the first one up and the last to bed. Getting caught up on her needs, I imagine, but she seems very well and quite happy.



Lil Bit
So....boy or girl??

I wish I could say there was a good excuse for how these chickens, and the various other birds in her yard, were being treated but there just isn't. She definitely can't claim dementia as she is younger than me (35). It looks like she was busy collecting birds to breed and then sell the eggs on eBay. Once that got old, or whatever, she was done. And instead of finding homes for the chickens she was more concerned with selling the various coops, cages, etc on FB. She was content to let me turn them loose in her yard and take the coop until I asked her if I could buy them.

I was really very scared to take them and even more terrified not to. What if I couldn't give them what they needed?? The only thing I knew was, unlike her, I'd try. I have read every book, blog and forum that I can to try and close the gap and so far, so good!



This is my very FIRST egg!! I got it a week ago today, and as of yesterday, we have our first half dozen! I cried the most upon finding the first one but I've still cried every single time! LOL




This is our little rooster. Anyone know what kind he is?? Here he is pictured with his favorite hen, of the moment, Beauty. They like to take long walks and sneak into the nesting boxes together. Bad chickens! Is he even big enough to mate with these girls or is it true that size doesn't matter in this case??

We didn't ever plan on having a rooster because I couldn't stand the thought of eating a potentially fertile egg - I know, amateur! - but I couldn't imagine our flock without him now. Plus, he's been through so much it just seems awful to consider rehoming him. We're in the country so we don't have to and so we won't! He started to crow the day after we got our first egg and he'll hop on those hens right in front of me! I'm not sure if I should consider that a privilege but I totally do.




Our flock consists of our little Roo, whatever he is, 3 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Australorps, a Wyandotte and Lil Bit from above that I "think" is a Wyandotte pullet (but what do I know!), 3 like this girl pictured above except the other 2 like her are white. I don't know if she's an EE or Ameraucana because I don't know if she's sporting a beard AND muffs or just one or the other. I'm still just a rookie. Heck, she may not even be a SHE!

Anyway, I am happy to report that they seem to be doing well and are happy. So am I!!

The previous owner no longer has most of her birds. Most have found new, and hopefully better, homes.




Thank you all so much for your support and helping me to believe I could do this. I love them all so very much and am amazed that, even on the worst days, all I have to do is just sit with them for awhile and I feel better. I feel blessed to have them!

Thanks again!

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Bravo!

They look happy and healthy and they are lovely!!! Well done! The little roo is a handsome young fellow. Lucky chickens.

 

[donrae]

Lil bit is splash in color but not sure on the breed, with those color legs she may be a mix. But she does look like a she. Your black and white hen is an easter egger. I'm not sure what your roo is, maybe a profile shot would help?

 

[MaineGigi]

I hadn't seen your original post until tonight. I'm so glad you have those chicks and they look great! Its nice to hear these stories, gives me hope that there are still wonderful people in the world. And that rooster he sure looks like a very "Proud Sir"!! Congrats, a job well done!
Cathy

 

[PeachStreet]

Thank you all!! You're all so very sweet and I appreciate your time. I can't imagine how she could walk out of her door everyday seeing them suffer right there in her backyard. You guys are very sweet to say such nice things about me but really I'm just doing what I think everyone should do. It's great to have a supportive community like this!!

Thanks again!
Jamie

P.S. Thanks for helping me to identify my flock members. Here's a side profile of Raji Roo Roo. Could he be a Serama?




In this second pic you can see that his right eye is swollen. Has been since we got him. One of the hens seems to have a bit of a swollen eye, too but her's doesn't look like his. Her's seems to be just her eye, with him it seems like the right side around his eye is swollen. I'm not seeing drainage and I don't know normal head shaking and wiping from abnormal but it doesn't seem excessive with either of them. Any tips??

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Just saw this thread and read it the entire way through.

BRAVO!!

Congratulations on a job well done and I look forward to hearing more updates on your new-found feathered family!

 

[PeachStreet]

I have forgotten to mention that every time we went to her house (3 times) she made some excuse as to why she wouldn't be there. She even made us take the money to her middle-schooler the day before we picked them up because she was going to the beach the next day - the day we were scheduled to pick them up. She knew she was doing wrong. In fact, I have never actually laid eyes on this woman in real-life. In the south, we call that a guilty dog barking!

 

[Pullet Surprise]

If no one gives you a tip on the eye problem, re-post it...I don't know enough to even hazard a guess, but some one should, especially if one of the hens has a similar problem.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I'm not sure but from his size I'd say no on Serama. My original guess was a black-tailed buff Japanese bantam? Not great quality but he has short legs and the straight up tail but too big for a Serama... unless that black hen is a bantam too?

On the swollen face, maybe a bit of sinus trouble? If you can find some VetRx it may help him. It has eucalyptus and other sinus clearing, circulation promoting stuff in it. Makes their faces, combs, wattles nice and red as it increases circulation to the area. Maybe check his nostrils to be sure they are clear. If not, a damp q-tip will clean it out. Other than that, I don't know.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I'd say Lil' Bit is a splash variety of the blue gene of some kind of chicken, not necessarily a mix. The blue gene carries blue (grey) legs with it. I can't see her comb very well. Rose comb? I'd say she is a girl. She could be a bantam or she could be stunted.