Baby with broken leg

[SmiYa0126]

That's great!

 

[cundare]

I'm thinking about putting him outside during the day in a cage, so that he can observe other chickens' behavior and understand how to act like a chicken; but still be safe from aggressive hens. If his own mother shows up, maybe they'll even recognize each other, although I don't think I'd leave them alone together at this point. We'd bring him in at night, of course, and let him sleep in the warm box we have for him in the dining room.

Despite the leg problem, he's otherwise acting like a normal, healthy little chick. Curious, alert, hungry all the time. I just don't know how long we'll be able to give him the CONSTANT attention he wants all day long in the house.

Luckily, we live in one of the only states where there have been no reported cases of avian flu, in birds or mammals. So we're not too concerned about handling him or letting him walk around on the floor once in a while.

 

[WoDia]

I'm thinking about putting him outside during the day in a cage, so that he can observe other chickens' behavior and understand how to act like a chicken; but still be safe from aggressive hens. If his own mother shows up, maybe they'll even recognize each other, although I don't think I'd leave them alone together at this point. We'd bring him in at night, of course, and let him sleep in the warm box we have for him in the dining room.

Despite the leg problem, he's otherwise acting like a normal, healthy little chick. Curious, alert, hungry all the time. I just don't know how long we'll be able to give him the CONSTANT attention he wants all day long in the house.

Luckily, we live in one of the only states where there have been no reported cases of avian flu, in birds or mammals. So we're not too concerned about handling him or letting him walk around on the floor once in a while.

I’m glad to know he’s doing better. Seeing other chickens will be good for him, as long as he’s very secure in there. Unfortunately, it’s very unlikely he’d make a positive connection with his mother and siblings. She had already left him injured, and went on her way with her healthy chicks. If there’s any way you can get another chick near his age for companionship, that’ll take a lot of pressure off of you. He’s wanting so much of your attention, because he’s lonely in the brooder. I’m hoping for a very happy outcome with your little one. Wonderful job with his care.

 

[cundare]

I’m glad to know he’s doing better. Seeing other chickens will be good for him, as long as he’s very secure in there. Unfortunately, it’s very unlikely he’d make a positive connection with his mother and siblings. She had already left him injured, and went on her way with her healthy chicks. If there’s any way you can get another chick near his age for companionship, that’ll take a lot of pressure off of you. He’s wanting so much of your attention, because he’s lonely in the brooder. I’m hoping for a very happy outcome with your little one. Wonderful job with his care.

Well, we have a large cage where we keep our alpha rooster and a younger bird -- maybe a few months old, still too soon to sex, but I suspect she's a pullet. They keep each other company and he gives her any live food we throw him. Once in a while babies crawl in through the chain link to grab some of the food we throw in the cage & he acts protectively of them. So it might be safe to put the little baby in there, but I think we'd have to monitor closely. I don't think I would do so until he appears to be fully recovered.

I want to get him around other chickens so he can socialize and learn from them. The problem is that we have three hens that have their own chicks -- two of them are the ones that almost killed him. So I'm concerned about leaving him in the yard unsupervised. If he's in the big cage, chicks -- including him -- can come & go as they please. But the larger birds can't get in to attack.

He's walking a little, little bit better every day. Slow but real progress, I think.

 

[cundare]

Some bird attacked another one of the chicks today. I found it on the ground, barely moving. It wouldn't even take food. A few hours later, he started to walk around and began eating. One of his siblings is staying with him most of the time and the mother doesn't seem to be abandoning him yet. Hopefully, he'll recover enough to keep up with her. This time, I think one of our cockerels had attacked him, but I didn't see it happen, so I'm not sure. I'm hopeful that, even if he has internal injuries, he'll recover. His legs look OK, but he looks weak and a bit wobbly.

Boy, it sure is dangerous to be a baby chicken.

 

[WoDia]

Some bird attacked another one of the chicks today. I found it on the ground, barely moving. It wouldn't even take food. A few hours later, he started to walk around and began eating. One of his siblings is staying with him most of the time and the mother doesn't seem to be abandoning him yet. Hopefully, he'll recover enough to keep up with her. This time, I think one of our cockerels had attacked him, but I didn't see it happen, so I'm not sure. I'm hopeful that, even if he has internal injuries, he'll recover. His legs look OK, but he looks weak and a bit wobbly.

Boy, it sure is dangerous to be a baby chicken.

I’m just shaking my head right now. The people in your neighborhood are uncaring and irresponsible with their own birds. Fortunately, you’re there to help the chicks. I suggest you place the other chick with yours for companionship. That takes pressure off of you, and it allows them both to heal under your care. I don’t think it’s a good idea for them to come and go as they please, because they’re both tiny and injured. It just won’t end up well for them. Place them both outside in a cage around your chickens during the day. That will be good for them. Until they’re bigger, they can share the brooder in the safety of your house. I’m angry that you have to deal with this to begin with. I can’t imagine ever letting any of my birds roam far and wide to be hit by a car or fall prey to a predator. Some people, like your neighbors, should NOT own chickens. Once these two heal, IF you don’t keep them, I hope you can find them a forever home.

 

[SmiYa0126]

WoDia is right, the other chickens will sense that they're hurt and they will attack them. They attack the weak and defenseless. Brutal little raptors.

 

[cundare]

To be fair, a # of these birds are feral and "belong" to neighbors only to the extent that they sleep in their yard b/c the neighbors feed them. But human predators out here are the worst. Namely, kids who ride around carrying fighting roosters, attempting to capture strays for local cockfighting rings. In the past, we've stopped kids who were carrying away our main rooster, which had wandered into the street in front of the house. Three kids even climbed our fence and, exhibiting incredible preplanned teamwork, captured and stole one of our roosters in under 90 seconds. (We saw them on the security camera the next day.)

 

[WoDia]

To be fair, a # of these birds are feral and "belong" to neighbors only to the extent that they sleep in their yard b/c the neighbors feed them. But human predators out here are the worst. Namely, kids who ride around carrying fighting roosters, attempting to capture strays for local cockfighting rings. In the past, we've stopped kids who were carrying away our main rooster, which had wandered into the street in front of the house. Three kids even climbed our fence and, exhibiting incredible preplanned teamwork, captured and stole one of our roosters in under 90 seconds. (We saw them on the security camera the next day.)

I wonder if the police have ever gone after any of those people who conduct those horrific cockfights. Animal abuse. That’s sickening. I hope you got your rooster back, unharmed.

 

[cundare]

Cockfighting is tolerated here as being "part of the culture" of certain ethnic groups by a few powerful politicians. It is illegal, but laws are rarely enforced and when the issue comes up, certain individuals vehemently oppose increasing penalties. It's horrible.

Yesterday, we caught three kids peering through our fence, carrying a fighting bird. When I confronted them, they said they were "just looking at your chickens." Now we're concerned that the first time we're not home, there will be another attempt and some of our roosters will wind up in "Spartacus" conditions. We already lost one rooster to marauding kids. I'm sure he's dead by now.