Brahma Thread

[Ksane]

Hi there,

Ive been noticing one of my Brahma chicks is much smaller than the others, seems like she is not growing well. Although acts fine, eats good and none of the others pick on her. I got her out and fused with her tonight and found something. I found a large fluid filled pocket / lump on her chest!!! I looked for a wound, old or fresh and found nothing... Any ideas? And what I should do about it..? Are there antibiotics, should I break it open? Help

If it's on *her right then it's probably her crop. That's where their food is stored before it goes further down in their digestive system. It can get pretty good sized sometimes, but it means she,s eating lots there always seems to be a small one in every group. As long as she acts good and runs around like the others I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Grumpypantsmomma]

Hi there,

Ive been noticing one of my Brahma chicks is much smaller than the others, seems like she is not growing well. Although acts fine, eats good and none of the others pick on her. I got her out and fused with her tonight and found something. I found a large fluid filled pocket / lump on her chest!!! I looked for a wound, old or fresh and found nothing... Any ideas? And what I should do about it..? Are there antibiotics, should I break it open? Help

When chick is facing you on the left hand side their should be her crop, it is normal for it to be bulging filled with fluid and food especially if she just ate and drank. If the crop is constantly full with fluid she could be just be drinking more then she is eating, when she eats you should be able to feel the food she ate in the crop. If you isolate her for the night without food and water and their is nothing their in the morning you have a perfectly functioning crop on your chickedy. If it is still fluid filled by the morning then she could have a sour crop and you can get more advice from bycer's how to help her out, I have only experienced this in adult chickens.
As for the growing slower then the others, I wouldn't be to worried, I have a few chickadees over the years that just don't/grow mature as fast as the others but are very healthy and happy laying hens or Roosters.

 

[brahmabreeder]

The crop is why birds eat stones. It helps them to grind up their food.

 

[HSCMorgans]

Thanks soooo much!! I worry about her cause she is so much smaller... I think you guys are right, i guess I still have a lot to learn! I will check her out again this am an see if its any different.. She sure is a sweet little thing!

 

[brahmabreeder]

I know I'm full of questions but I'm new at breeding chickens. When are these birds ready to breed. I have 16 chicks I hatched this year and I was thinking about November my birds will be breeder ready am i right? They have all hatched between April 16 and May 27. Also when can you tell if they are SQ, BQ, and pet Quality?

 

[Ksane]

The crop is why birds eat stones. It helps them to grind up their food.

Actually I believe their gizzard is where the grit is, it's a muscle and the stones they swallow rub together to break the food down since they don't have teeth. Their crop is like a 'lunchbox' where they store their food to save for later.
The chicks should be ready to breed about November. Some don't start laying that late in the year and will hold off til spring.

 

[brahmabreeder]

Thank you. Next year I plan to hatch earlier but I was having issues with my roosters so I had to keep waiting. Next year I want my chicks to hatch at the beginning of march.

 

[Ksane]

Thank you. Next year I plan to hatch earlier but I was having issues with my roosters so I had to keep waiting. Next year I want my chicks to hatch at the beginning of march.

Haha! Just make sure you give them the March Hatch copy of the book to read. Silly chickens don't always cooperate

 

[Nikkipar]

LOL isn't that the truth!

My hatch is happening right now! So far I have 4 BLB and 3 GLB, and 7 Silkies with more hatching! YAY!

 

[brahmabreeder]

Haha yeah I found out the hard way too that chickens don't cooperate. I tried hatching eggs from my one rooster and non were fertile. A few days later He decides he decides to die

. Then I called the guy I bought him from and got another rooster. I set a batch of eggs and two out of the 10 were fertile. Now I have gone crazy with the whole hatching eggs thing. Since I'm running out of space I had to cut my self off until I get some birds sold. Today I have 25 cockerel chicks coming. Those are future capons. So I have ran out of space and it makes me sad because I love having chicks around the house/ yard.