Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[Fancychooklady]

Thanks Annie , I was talking to my daughter in-law and she doesn't think Bear would do it either. We've got new neighbours and more down the road so maybe a new cat too. We do have a few in the area. I am wondering if they got her and dumped her when Bear came to see what was going on. As she was in the middle of the lawn and she was soaking wet, it hadn't rained for a few hours so she was probably there for a little while and if Bear was the culprit I don't think he would have just left it there. That's my thoughts anyway. For nearly 2 years these chickens have been out with him, and Lucky got out on her own everyday, because she was so big (australorp) I didn't worry about bird predators. But Bear is a bit slower these days and he sleeps in the carport when its so cold, so maybe a cat did get to her before he could protect her.
On more of a chook note. I looked over my day old chooks properly today, I didn't want to upset them anymore after their ride in the car. So I put them in the laundry and left them in the quiet.
This morning I notice a bit of red poo so I picked each one up and they had poo on their bottoms so I used warm water and cleaned them, they I noticed quite a bit of feather on the wings. I also thought their toes look like clubs. So I rang the lady where I got them and it turns out they are 8 days old and the clubs toes is a build up to dirt. The conditions they were in were not the best, but hey they have heaps to care for. Just having a few at a time I can keep mine all very clean. I am not completely happy that they are healthy and they seem small for 8 days, I'm entirely sure about what to do. Should I clean up their feet and keep them for a few days and see if the poo gets better and maybe without so much competition for food they will grown quickly now.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
I think in the future I will hatch my own or get them from people I know. That's the trouble of taking grand kids who think the chicks are so cute can we please have them.
Well I hope everyone is having a warm dry day today and enjoying their Sunday.

Blood in poop can be a tell tale sign of coccidiosis, keep a close eye on them and if you see anyone fluffed up treat them all with amprolium. Pasty butt is usually the result of the temp in the brooder being too high , coupled with dehydration. Make sure the water is changed daily and that the chicks have enough room in the brooder to avoid the heat if necessary , add a few drops of ACV to the water and smear a little Vaseline around the vent. For them to have that much poop caked on their feet would suggest that they haven't been in very clean surroundings. Pop their feet innsome warm water and wait for the muck to dissolve a little. I line the brooder with paper towel for the first week, it's easier to remove and keep clean.

 

[Anniebee]

I'm sure they'll get the hang of it now. Mine hated it when I moved them into another coop. But after a couple of nights of chasing them in with a light after dark they got used to going in on their own. Usually just before it gets dark they put themselves to bed.

Thank Annie they all seem to be pooing normally now so I'll just keep an eye on them for a bit and hope it was just the stress of moving them.

That is super news LuckysMum. Stress certainly does count for a lot - I know that from buying my own chickens - but they were just pre POL at the time - still took its' toll until they settled in. As long as your littlies are kept nicely warm for a while longer ... and I am so glad that Fancy has responded ... she knows way more than some of us do ( especially me - as regards little chickies ).

As for the bed-time capers. From day 1, I began to say the word "BED" and repeated it over and over, encouraging them into the coop. ( rounding them up, in other words ). 12 months afterwards, they would all [ 5 of them of them at the time ] retire to their coops in the early evening, as soon as the word "BED" was uttered --- and it has continued that way since ( the remaining 3 are all now almost 5 years of age ). Only one ( Mindy Araucana ) occasionally gives me a nasty salute !! but I raise my voice a few decibels, and she decides its best to obey ( which is quite funny to see ). She is such a fuss pot and is feisty mad-as-a-hatter at times.

Hope to hear more good news from you ... with the little ones.

Cheers ~~~

 

[LuckysMum]

Thanks Fancy I have cleaned all their toes, I bathed them in warm water. Their butts are all fluffy and clean and have been since I cleaned them. A friend suggested taking them back but I would feel bad taking them back to overcrowded and dirty cages. I usually use paper towel for the first week then pine chips or sand. They are in a huge plastic tub so they have plenty of room. I will put some ACV in the water in the morning when I change it again. I have been cleaning up the paper towel constantly today so hopefully the will be fine.
Will they be alright for a few more days on paper towel when they are already a week old. I know the need to have a bumpy surface is important. Its a little bit harder to keep wood or sand as clean as a paper towel environment.
Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[Anniebee]

During moults, I have found my girls have woopsie feet mixed with feathers - such a nice look ( NOT ). .... and I spend a lot of time cleaning their feet, only to find a couple of hours later, they are in the same tangle again.

One woopsie and two + feathers is enough to make a big mess. Whether outside or in their coop, makes little difference. Yet I keep their coop as clean as possible from freshly dropped doings at moult times. No one can regulate the times a chooken passes bowel ( including that foul smelling caecal stuff ). Am always very glad when moulting is over. As I use the deep litter method of keeping in a coop, it is always good to get them back to full feather, and allow the poop to be attacked by super good microbes, and padded down by the chookies feet. I remove the most incredibly hard packed ( with a tomahawk I might add ) chicken manure, with some straw and wood shavings mixed in - - every 3 months or so. People ( family ) in the know, line up for bags of this manure. ... has had profound effects on family vegie patches. A real wow factor.

 

[Anniebee]

Thanks Fancy I have cleaned all their toes, I bathed them in warm water. Their butts are all fluffy and clean and have been since I cleaned them. A friend suggested taking them back but I would feel bad taking them back to overcrowded and dirty cages. I usually use paper towel for the first week then pine chips or sand. They are in a huge plastic tub so they have plenty of room. I will put some ACV in the water in the morning when I change it again. I have been cleaning up the paper towel constantly today so hopefully the will be fine.
Will they be alright for a few more days on paper towel when they are already a week old. I know the need to have a bumpy surface is important. Its a little bit harder to keep wood or sand as clean as a paper towel environment.
Thanks everyone for your help.

So pleased to hear this news. Your little chickies are in very good hands.

Cheers ~~

 

[LuckysMum]

Annie
People ( family ) in the know, line up for bags of this manure. ... has had profound effects on family vegie patches. A real wow factor.

Funny that you say that Annie. I grown gooseberries and when they aren't ripe or are overripe the grandkids throw them to the chooks. Now because of spreading manure I have gooseberries coming up in the front yard. There were so many my mum decided to take some home. She looked at mine the other day (sitting nicely in chook manure) and said hers are nowhere near the size of mine. Good ole chook manure.

 

[satay]

Thanks Fancy I have cleaned all their toes, I bathed them in warm water. Their butts are all fluffy and clean and have been since I cleaned them. A friend suggested taking them back but I would feel bad taking them back to overcrowded and dirty cages. I usually use paper towel for the first week then pine chips or sand. They are in a huge plastic tub so they have plenty of room. I will put some ACV in the water in the morning when I change it again. I have been cleaning up the paper towel constantly today so hopefully the will be fine.
Will they be alright for a few more days on paper towel when they are already a week old. I know the need to have a bumpy surface is important. Its a little bit harder to keep wood or sand as clean as a paper towel environment.
Thanks everyone for your help.

I use the non slip matting that you can buy in the supermarket from day one for mine. I find it easy to take out and hose it off each day and let dry. I have a few lots so i wash one set and replace it with another while that set drys.

 

[satay]

During moults, I have found my girls have woopsie feet mixed with feathers - such a nice look ( NOT ). .... and I spend a lot of time cleaning their feet, only to find a couple of hours later, they are in the same tangle again.

One woopsie and two + feathers is enough to make a big mess. Whether outside or in their coop, makes little difference. Yet I keep their coop as clean as possible from freshly dropped doings at moult times. No one can regulate the times a chooken passes bowel ( including that foul smelling caecal stuff ). Am always very glad when moulting is over. As I use the deep litter method of keeping in a coop, it is always good to get them back to full feather, and allow the poop to be attacked by super good microbes, and padded down by the chookies feet. I remove the most incredibly hard packed ( with a tomahawk I might add ) chicken manure, with some straw and wood shavings mixed in - - every 3 months or so. People ( family ) in the know, line up for bags of this manure. ... has had profound effects on family vegie patches. A real wow factor.

i have a big poop tub that i tip all the poo in. Like a compost bin with no bottom. I leave it break down for 6 months or so and i have been using this to spread around the front yard to encourage the grass to regrow after the storm and all the damage from trees break and falling and stumps that had to be removed.

 

[satay]

During moults, I have found my girls have woopsie feet mixed with feathers - such a nice look ( NOT ). .... and I spend a lot of time cleaning their feet, only to find a couple of hours later, they are in the same tangle again.

One woopsie and two + feathers is enough to make a big mess. Whether outside or in their coop, makes little difference. Yet I keep their coop as clean as possible from freshly dropped doings at moult times. No one can regulate the times a chooken passes bowel ( including that foul smelling caecal stuff ). Am always very glad when moulting is over. As I use the deep litter method of keeping in a coop, it is always good to get them back to full feather, and allow the poop to be attacked by super good microbes, and padded down by the chookies feet. I remove the most incredibly hard packed ( with a tomahawk I might add ) chicken manure, with some straw and wood shavings mixed in - - every 3 months or so. People ( family ) in the know, line up for bags of this manure. ... has had profound effects on family vegie patches. A real wow factor.

Its great for vegies for sure. I use it on everything here. My hibiscus's really love it.

 

[satay]

All the new girls have settled in well and Big G is happy as larry to be in with them now so I am pleased about that. He bolts up to the door for treats when i come in with them each day. Still not many eggs though but that's ok. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a bumper lay this spring.