Am I doing this right? 10 week old pullets

[carlye828]

I recently acquired two pullets approximately 10 weeks of age. The breeder had them outside, but they were on dirt. I have tractors and no spot is bare in my yard so they have constant access to graze in the grass and have been having a splendid time doing so. They also have constant access to feed, water, and grit.

I am completely paranoid that I am going to kill these girls. All of my other hens have come to me already grown, and the last time I dealt with a juvenile or baby was over 20 years ago. Is there anything in particular that I should watch for, or that I should or should not do?

Here's a picture, just because they're so cute and fluffy!

 

[Den in Penn]

At ten weeks and with the others and still alive, they are doing well. If you haven't killed a hen with neglect, I doubt you'll kill them. They don't yet need the calcium in layer, but with them pasturing on the lawn I wouldn't worry about that. I think you should relax and enjoy them.

 

[carlye828]

OK. Thanks for the reassurance. I have never analyzed poo so intensely before I got these two. When they first came home, they were mine, and I was concerned but not obsessive about them. Now that my children have claimed them to love, I'm really worried about them!

I will chill and enjoy! Thanks!

 

[lclough1998]

not sure if going from dirt to all green will upset their tummies, but they will adjust and they will be so happy and healthy!

 

[carlye828]

Thanks. I was worried about that because the woman I got them from rationed their food, so they went from eating once a day to the all day, eat till you pop buffet! Then I was reading another post on here about crop impaction, and Oh, Lordy! My mind just went wild!

 

[Chris09]

What type of feed is the chick in the picture on? Is a chick starter if so is it Medicated?
The reason I as is because the chick looks sick, it could have Cocci, Worms or even a Respiratory Disease.
Is it coughing or sneezing, or does it have bubbles in the eye or a runny nose?

Chris

 

[dcsharpe]

It doesn't look sick to me but I am a newbie. What exactly makes you think it looks sick? Are there some signs that should be looked for that I am not seeing?

 

[carlye828]

Chris,you're freakin me out!!! Why does it look sick? It doesn't act sick. My New Momma jitters had already been calmed, but you're makin me want to run out to the coop, bring them inside, and tuck them into bed!

To clarify, this is preliminary. Nothing is wrong that I know of, but as I said, it has been a long time since I have had a youngin' and I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything obvious.

 

[Den in Penn]

This is what I see. A pullet that is hunkered down, its head pulled in and tail down. I assume that it was just one of those pictures that catch the subject at the wrong time. Chris09 has been looking at pictures of birds longer than I. Something caught his eye. But you have the bird its self, and you can observe it. If it isn't acting sick showing any symptoms, eating and drinking OK, well I don't know everything. By the way is that a tailless breed?

 

[carlye828]

It's not supposed to be tailless, but I'm startin to wonder. They don't have any sign of tails yet, so I'm not so hopeful that they are going to magically appear at this stage of the game.

This picture was also taken right after they got here to their new home. They had just finished their first long car ride and were in the process of being gawked and hollered at from the other side of the coop by our old girls, who just couldn't believe that I would ever feel the need to have any other chickens besides themselves. It was also a windy, chilly, dark day. The flash did go off in this picture and it did make her look kind of washed out.