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I agree with Beth, call the town hall. Here in Essex I was told " chickens are sort of a gray area, we don't have any ordinances against them, and if the neighbors are ok with it the town does not get involved, as long as they are pets and not a commercial enterprise"
I am really amazed how many chicken keepers there are in just our little neighborhood. We're near the essex/westbrook/deep river border and there are chickens everywhere. Just walking the dog around the block we pass 5 houses with operating coops.
Hello all CT Chicken Friends! I am so happy to be home and recovering since (4 days in the hospital for hysterectomy) Sunday afternoon and can't believe how BIG my chicks are getting!!! I missed them so much and they look so different (more like chickens than cotton balls) now! DH did a good job taking care of all 18 of them and even dug the holes for the coop footings!!
I noticed that a couple of them have watery poop, not bloody or off-color, but squirts out like a watery ketchup condiment bottle (noise and all!) The 16 chicks were hatched on August 1st and have been on medicated starter feed and plain, fresh water. They are VERY active and surprisingly, the Wyandottes will even fly up onto my arm and squat to get petted. I have the EcoGlow 50 in there with them, but they don't even really seem to use it and the basement is about 75 degrees.
What should I do for the watery poopers? I really don't think they are sick, but now that they are starting to roost, it could get nasty if they let loose on someone below...
Should I take the EcoGlow 50 out of the brooder to give them more room, replace it with the smaller Ecoglow20, or leave it in as the only heat source. Remember, they are indoors in my basement.
My 2 Quail D'Anvers are on the other half of the brooder and doing very well. Gazpacho is a beautiful (possibly even SQ) cockerel and Amelia Egghart is a (possibly SQ) pullet. They are about 9 weeks old. Do you think I should keep Gazpacho separate from the others permanently, or try to eventually integrate the whole flock together?
Of the 2 week old chicks, I have 4 Silkies that I think I might like to keep separated from the others, or maybe keep with my white cochin and separate from the others. They are much smaller, although not at all timid around their brooder peers. Eventually, I want to breed the Silkies (the others are supposed to be all pullets.) I know I will be neurotic about the Silkies as I am already thinking of bringing them indoors when it gets too hot or too cold.
Sorry for so many questions, I thought I had it all worked out, but being away from them for 4 days and on pain meds really makes me feel loopy and unsure of myself.
John from CT: PM me if you still want to volunteer to help DH and carpenter friend Bill get the coop done. I'll give you DH's cell #.
Tina, Beth, Becky, Lisa, Laura: Would love to get together soon. Stop by any time. Appreciate all your help!
Will try to post updated pictures of my "not-so-little, OMG how did they get such huge feet, fuzzy butts."
Glad to hear you're doing well and so are your chickies!
They may be luckier in your basement than outdoor flocks this weekend-with Irene potentially making landfall in Connecticut on Sunday! We'll be coming back from out of state on Sunday-maybe Saturday night, to get ahead of the storm- so I need to batten down the hatches in preparation now
As for the chicks, Are you giving them any grit or sand? Sometimes getting a clump of grass with roots and dirt attached can help clear up watery poop. Try to avoid treats, water additives for a few days unless you see blood or red in the poo. If I am reading your message correctly you have not seen blood or red right? ***edit**** try to find virgin ground that has not been tainted with wild bird or chicken feces. Sorry forgot to mention that
Also, keep brooder very clean so others do not peck at the watery substance. It wouldn't suprize me if the clumps of dirt/grass/roots help. offer them a fresh clump am and pm for a few days. Let me know if that helps.
Okay as for the intergrating thingy do it sooner than later and always make sure that your brooder is big enough so that the two newbies to the flock have ample room to get out of the way of pecking till bleeding stage. If you see them draw blood remove that chick ASAP and keep separate until it is completely healed.
My 5 have watery poop now and then, I worried at first, but after seeing some of the stuff that comes out, as long as it's only once in awhile, I don't worry.
Actually, their hatch day was yesterday, but one year ago today a peeping box arrived at the post office. Four welsummer and four easter egger chicks, as cute and fluffy as can be (two of the Welsummers went to live with another BYCer as at that time hubby said "no way" to having 8 chickens ...
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My, they grow so fast!
Dobieslady1: glad your surgery went well. ((HUGS)) and prayers for a speedy recovery.
DONT FORGET THE OCTOBER 1 CT PEEPS GET-TOGETHER!!! More information coming next week.