B.Y.C. Dorking Club!

[capayvalleychick]

Does anyone on here know of a good Dorking breeder in Alberta Canada? I can't seem to find any. thanks!

Liz Munro in Red Deer. Contact info might be on the Dorking Breeder Club webpage. Or, she's on Facebook on the Dorking group.

 

[GirlWithTheTJ]

Awesome thanks!!

 

[Purple Iris]

Hi there, I'm a new BYC member - as of yesterday!

I put a little write up and some info on the New Members Intro section 'Hello, I'm new here'! on 6/22, hoping some more experienced chicken owners could help me estimate the age of our Dorking chick. The photos I used were taken almost a week ago. I'm not sure of the protocol, if I should repeat the request in this thread, or if giving the details for the intro thread is OK? Thanks

 

[Dirt Farmer]

Hi there, I'm a new BYC member - as of yesterday!

I put a little write up and some info on the New Members Intro section 'Hello, I'm new here'! on 6/22, hoping some more experienced chicken owners could help me estimate the age of our Dorking chick. The photos I used were taken almost a week ago. I'm not sure of the protocol, if I should repeat the request in this thread, or if giving the details for the intro thread is OK? Thanks

I'm thinking you'll get more response if you re-post here. We've got some helpful Dorking people on the thread. Welcome to BYC.

 

[ronott1]

Hi there, I'm a new BYC member - as of yesterday!

I put a little write up and some info on the New Members Intro section 'Hello, I'm new here'! on 6/22, hoping some more experienced chicken owners could help me estimate the age of our Dorking chick. The photos I used were taken almost a week ago. I'm not sure of the protocol, if I should repeat the request in this thread, or if giving the details for the intro thread is OK? Thanks

It would be better if you could get a picture of the front of them. The feathers start growing in from the outside of the breast.

Could you have a bantam dorking?

 

[Purple Iris]

I'm thinking you'll get more response if you re-post here. We've got some helpful Dorking people on the thread. Welcome to BYC.

OK Thanks for welcome, I'll try to get some '1 week older' pics after work this evening, and post them here.

 

[Purple Iris]

It would be better if you could get a picture of the front of them. The feathers start growing in from the outside of the breast.

Could you have a bantam dorking?

Thanks for your response, not listed as a bantam in the chick hatching date page, but I can get more up to date photos later from the front as you suggested.

 

[ki4got]

@Purple Iris usually my own chicks by 4-5 weeks have most of their body and head feathers coming in, the breast is coloring as well. I would say that chick is maybe 2-3 weeks old? best guess.

 

[Purple Iris]

Hi there, as a new member I'm hoping to take full advantage of the wealth of experience amongst other members - sorry this is a long post, hope that's OK, I wanted to give all info that may be relevant as I have just 1 weeks experience of looking after very young chicks.

I went to take pictures this evening as suggested by earlier respondents to my 'how old is my dorking chick' question. Sadly our little Dorking (whom we named Pixie) is really looking as if she feels awful. She looks really 'droopy' is holding her eyes closed a lot, then she has spurts of activity, moving round the tote as usual, eating chick crumbs, drinking the water, and passing normal, formed stool. Because I was concerned that she didn't seem to be growing, or getting any more feathers growing in I have been weighing them for a few days Pixie the Dorking = Mon 6/21 116g, Tue 119g, Wed 118g and this evening 107g!

The Wyandotte (named Fern) on the other hand is thriving, she has loads of new feathers, color change on top of her head, and is growing very fast Mon 6/21 205g, Tue 213g, Wed 233g, tonight 240g.

Initially when they came home, 1 week ago, she was just a touch bigger, now she dwarfs Pixie, we have 2 bowls of chick crumbs set up so there's not too much competition when they eat - Pixie tries to eat alongside Fern, whose bigger body often bumps her out the way, so then Pixie will eat from the other bowl. I tried leaving Fern in the cat carrier I pop them into while I clean the tote tonight, hoping to give Pixie a head start at the fresh food, but she only took a few pieces before realizing she was alone and making the most panicky peep noises, so I reunited them quickly.

I was unsure about their ages when we first brought them home, because the Dorking are listed as hatching in the week of 5/15, so that would make her approx. 5.5 - 6 weeks old now. Meanwhile the Silver Laced Wyandottes were from the week of May 22nd, so you'd think those chicks would be smaller than the Dorkings.

I'm sure some of you have experience with sick chicks. Given that she's eating well, but losing weight, would you suspect parasites? Her stool has been formed all week that she's been here, no blood seen. If parasites are a possibility, what kind of dewormer would you recommend? To make sure she is warm, I have a heat disc underneath the base of the tote, and lined a small box with fleece and made a little chicken hot water bottle, by heating uncooked rice in a sports sock in the microwave - something I used to do for my foster kittens. She was standing in the box leaning aganst that when I last checked (she often sleeps standing up with her head tucked behind her, under a wing, rather than lying in the shavings like the Wyandotte does).

Is there a possibility she could be a lot younger, and we should have her under a heat lamp? (Currently we just have the tote under a strip light as we were advised that at 5 weeks they needed some light for reassurance, but not for heat). Or do you think genetically maybe she is just not too healthy, and so not thriving, given that she really hasn't gained weight?

Any advice welcome, I have emailed the farm that we got them from asking for any advice too, but they are busy and request you allow 24 hours for a response.

I'm sending you a few photos, as, after all these years I'm sure you've seen chicks in all kinds of condition and may see something to indicate why Pixie is fading.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, I did offer some natural yoghurt, but she wasn't keen, went back to the chick crumbs. I have seen probiotics and electrolytes recommended in other threads, any particular brand I should look out for - if she makes it through the night....

First pic is from 1 week ago, all the others were taken this evening

 

[Purple Iris]

Final update before bed - Pixie still with us, but looking fairly pathetic, was with her just a few mins ago, she ate a few clover type leaves from the garden enthusiastically (told OK to gradually add few 'greens' to their diets when we brought them home last week, and they have had a few each night - we don't use any chemicals on the lawn), she also tucked into some chick crumbs, did have different looking stool, paler in color and a looser splat, rather than the usual formed shape. Snuggled up now with a fresh, warm rice sock.

Sorry if this seems a little dramatic for 1 sick chick - but I put a lot of effort and research into breeds that would work well here, re-measured coop and worked out we'd fit in 2 more adult birds comfortably. Monitored the hatching list to see when they'd be ready, rescheduled work shifts so I could drive 2 hours to fetch them, took my husband along on this 'mystery ride' and then, (as I did last year with 2, 12 week old chickens from a neighbors farm) introduced him to his birthday present! Sadly feel his gift may be halved - down to just 1 chick in the next few days, but fingers crossed she'll make it.