Can someone please help me identify the breed? I'm still new at this

[Chicken-Man]

The black one looks exactly like my hen. It is a cross breed. Australorp cross something. I have been researching on the other half but couldn't find it. Anyone know?

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I see. Where can I get oyster shells?

Most farm stores and some feed mills

 

[HRChicks]

I agree on the breeds, and that Murgi is young. Maybe feeding her a laying feed will give her the protein and nutrients she needs to start laying. When you add more chickens, Murgi may get grumpy and hen peck the new girls, but they will eventually work it out.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

I agree on the breeds, and that Murgi is young. Maybe feeding her a laying feed will give her the protein and nutrients she needs to start laying. When you add more chickens, Murgi may get grumpy and hen peck the new girls, but they will eventually work it out.

A lot of people say it is not a good idea to give a pullet layer feed until they look close to laying. Murgi doesn't look really close to me

 

[senorita05]

The black one looks exactly like my hen. It is a cross breed. Australorp cross something. I have been researching on the other half but couldn't find it. Anyone know?

Nylah (the hen that I found in my backyard) was said to be a cross between Australorp and Bantam. It was suggested by someone else on this thread. If you go back and check the thread you will see. So it possibly could be that?

As for Popcorn (soft shell egg layer) she laid her first solid egg today while she has been with me. It is small. But progress nonetheless. I can assume the layer feed I am giving her is working I will still add some oyster shells just in case.

Well Murgi (Black sex link) has already started laying. She started about 9 days ago. And so far we have received 7 eggs from her. I'm really happy and excited about that

 

[senorita05]

So the hen I found in my backyard (Nylah) actually belongs to one of my neighbours and he took it back he doesn't really take care of them and it saddens me deeply. Nylah was all bone

Sunset and Popcorn have finally started mixing with Murgi and Zuzu. I put out the cage and Zuzu kept dancing around the cage the 2 new hens were in. Is this normal behaviour? Is this his way of asserting dominance over the others?

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

So the hen I found in my backyard (Nylah) actually belongs to one of my neighbours and he took it back he doesn't really take care of them and it saddens me deeply. Nylah was all bone

Sunset and Popcorn have finally started mixing with Murgi and Zuzu. I put out the cage and Zuzu kept dancing around the cage the 2 new hens were in. Is this normal behaviour? Is this his way of asserting dominance over the others?

Sorry about Nylah. If he doesn't take care of them well try and call your local animal shelter or something. That is normal behavior, he is trying to show off to the new girls and get them to like him.

 

[senorita05]

Yeah I will try to keep an eye out for them.

They seem to like him a lot. They peck and eat food off his face and he seems to enjoy it.

This brings me to my next question. Can the chickens I purchased be carnivores? I have 2 quails that live in the coop with the chickens. I usually let the chickens out and leave the quails in the coop because they are small and can easily get lost in my backyard. This morning I had 2 hospital appointments to attend and no one was going to be home, so I left all the chickens and rooster in the coop with the quails. This has never been an issue because I raised Murgi and Zuzu and these 2 quails together and they get along well. When I came home, it was just sheer horror. I went to let my hens and rooster to graze around the backyard and I saw that one of my quails was bleeding profusely. On closer inspection I found that the quail was severely injured. He was missing feathers from his back and the skin had been peeled off to the point where I can see veins. He was obviously attacked. I immediately removed both my quails and took the injured one to the vet. The vet said he couldn't do anything for it that I wouldn't be able to do at home. I was really sad about that. So now I'm taking care of him. I honestly thought he was going to die when I brought it home because it kept closing its eyes. But now it seems more awake. I'm keeping him warm and have provided plenty of food. But he doesn't seem to be eating. He drank lots of water at the beginning but now he isn't touching anything. Later when I went to the backyard I noticed that Sunset and Popcorn were eating quail feathers. I am now very concerned because of his health and I don't want to hatch new baby chicks and put them through the same thing. I can't help but feel guilty and partially responsible for not being more careful. Any help and advice would be appreciated.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

If you give chickens a piece of meat they will normally eat it. Now I have never had a chicken try and eat another animal (besides live bugs and mice). i have had them severly hurt other animals. I am sure they were just picking on it not trying to eat it. I would never keep quail and chickens together, chickens can easily hurt quail. I would seperate them. You could just make them a little 3ft by 5ft crate type thing lifted off the ground and a little ramp an fenced in area. that is plenty area for only two quail. You could even get them a few more buddies

 

[senorita05]

Oh really? I didn't know that. The guy I bought the quails from said that chickens and quails can live together in harmony so I didn't think twice about it until this. Right now my quails are sitting in a cage. The injured quail is doing a whole lot better than it was yesterday. The bleeding has stopped but you can see parts of his scalp. He still isn't eating any food, but I noticed him drinking water. So I thought I would try out milk with him. Its working. I feed him a little bit of milk through a dropper every hour or so