Colorado

[krcchickens]

All this talk of new chicks! I got my marans and buff orp babies tonight. I haven't figured out how to post pics, yet, though.

I really want a maran

 

[kmatt87]

I really want a maran

I'm getting 2 and can only keep one.....

 

[trochefarm]

Here they are!

 

[maggiemo]

I really want a maran

x2 and OE'ers

 

[maggiemo]

so cute trochefarm.

 

[TracieJS]

THANK YOU everyone for all the wonderful advice and ideas. We decided that we would move Puff Ball downstairs (we have carpet - now covered with a sheet) so she could come out of her cage and walk around. She couldn't walk around on the hardwood floors... too slick.

She hobbles around a little but doesn't move a lot but we decided we would try and integrate her back into the flock once the weather gets warmer so she gets to stay inside for a little while longer. We built a ramp up to the coop (versus the ladder we had). She gets picked on a lot so we will have to see if she can make it back with the others. My son who hates to read is now reading to her (figured maybe it would make it more interesting for him) and gives her interaction... If she can't integrate back with the flock, then we will see what we do as we can't keep her as an inside chicken. She hasn't laid an egg yet so I am guessing that her injury has prevented her from doing so or she might not ever lay. She is about 6 months old and all the EEs are laying (had 6 eggs today - I have 7 girls (excluding Puff Ball).

Here is a pic...





I LOOOVVVEEE all the baby chick pics...........
Thanks again for all the support for this chicken newbie!
Tracie

 

[coloradogal]

THANK YOU everyone for all the wonderful advice and ideas. We decided that we would move Puff Ball downstairs (we have carpet - now covered with a sheet) so she could come out of her cage and walk around. She couldn't walk around on the hardwood floors... too slick.

She hobbles around a little but doesn't move a lot but we decided we would try and integrate her back into the flock once the weather gets warmer so she gets to stay inside for a little while longer. We built a ramp up to the coop (versus the ladder we had). She gets picked on a lot so we will have to see if she can make it back with the others. My son who hates to read is now reading to her (figured maybe it would make it more interesting for him) and gives her interaction... If she can't integrate back with the flock, then we will see what we do as we can't keep her as an inside chicken. She hasn't laid an egg yet so I am guessing that her injury has prevented her from doing so or she might not ever lay. She is about 6 months old and all the EEs are laying (had 6 eggs today - I have 7 girls (excluding Puff Ball).

Here is a pic...





I LOOOVVVEEE all the baby chick pics...........
Thanks again for all the support for this chicken newbie!
Tracie

Quick question: This is the gal that hasn't been healing with a leg issue right? Her lack of healing could have been as simple as the slickness of the hardwood floor. As she would try to walk, the slickness could have prevented her from finding traction. If you have a chicken with splay leg, you always make sure that they are on things that give them traction. If you don't, they will never heal or heal wrong.

So fingers crossed that now that she is on a surface where she has traction, she will heal. That's exciting! So fingers crossed she'll start attempting to walk.

My pullet is just starting now to walk normally. It took a long time. I just sat in the coop today and was marveling at how she's putting weight on her leg. So don't lose hope yet. She may be that way or she may just need to heal a little longer.

edit: EEs are notorious for taking forever to lay. A couple of mine still aren't laying and they came to me June timeframe.

 

[krcchickens]

I'm getting 2 and can only keep one.....

let me ask my hubby and ill get back to you... THANKS!!

 

[TracieJS]

Yes, she is the one who hobbles (she also drags a wing on occassion). When the weather was nicer we had her outside when the rest of the girls were free ranging and she would hobble a little but then she would find a spot and hunker down/hide out from our dominant hen. We actually locked Crazy (my Ancona and the dominant hen) in the run so Puff Ball could be out with the rest without being picked on.

I am so hoping we can reintegrate her and that she can climb up the ramp... I don't think she will be able to fly up to the roost. Will she be okay nesting on the bottom or in a nesting box?
Thanks ColoradoGal !

 

[coloradogal]

Yes, she is the one who hobbles (she also drags a wing on occassion). When the weather was nicer we had her outside when the rest of the girls were free ranging and she would hobble a little but then she would find a spot and hunker down/hide out from our dominant hen. We actually locked Crazy (my Ancona and the dominant hen) in the run so Puff Ball could be out with the rest without being picked on.

I am so hoping we can reintegrate her and that she can climb up the ramp... I don't think she will be able to fly up to the roost. Will she be okay nesting on the bottom or in a nesting box?
Thanks ColoradoGal !

Chickens have a great way of adapting. Even if she doesn't live long, she can still have a great life. That's the comfort I take whenever I nurse a chicken back to health. I have a pullet now with cross beak. She's still growing but I have to make a special mash for her. She's 4 weeks old and I know she'll never be pretty and I'll never hatch any of her eggs...heck, she may not even last long. Most would have culled her already but she's too little to eat and I guess I have a problem with culling out of inconvenience. So she's special needs and I'm stuck with her but that's ok. She's the first one I've ever had with cross beak and I suspect it could have been caused from my loss of power during incubation but I just don't know.

Anyways, my point is just do the best you can. Chickens are empathetic to the pain of others and do sympathize. So she'll know that you are doing your best and I suspect that'll be enough. Then if you must cull her someday, she'll be calm in your arms and not be traumatized in the final seconds. There are worse things than that.