Ellywe still isn't doing well. Feeling very discouraged and need help.

[Sea Wolf]

Stop giving the babies treats. The chick starter is all that they need and should be getting for quite some time. The feed should be wet for a while to make it easier and more tempting to eat. Even my adult birds prefer wet feed to dry. The more you keep handling her and cuddling her, the more you are making her dependent on you. If what you are aiming for is a chicken in a diaper living in your house and following you around all day being waited on, that is what you will get. You need to make her learn to be a chicken and to stay with other chickens. You can try the feather duster trick. I did but my chicks have always pretty much ignored it. Forcing water into her may be doing more harm than good. Putting water to her bill gives her no choice but to drink it. Put the water in a shallow tray and float a couple of shavings on top. The movement of the shavings on the water will encourage pecking at the water surface.

 

[Tatuana]

FINAL UPDATE ON EYLLWE. (SHE'S FINE!!! )

She's joined her half of the Trouble Team, and is doing FANTASTIC. She has quirks ("Commando Crawling" being her favorite way to get around outside when she's not plotting with her Other Half - Tallis). She's also lagging behind the other babies emotionally. Think of a younger sibling, that's how she acts. She also thinks she has to squat when you pick her up. If I keep her grounded and not focused on the Trouble Team she's a sweetie. Just a bit wild because Tallis is. I'm hoping when she matures she will settle.

She's also a hot house flower. She HATES if her warming pad is NOT on high. She shivers easily. Or else she just likes to fry. Jury is still out on that. I think she feels a bit spoiled. It's also possible it's her size. Tallis came from the same batch of eggs, same breed. Tallis is about 30 to 40 percent larger than Eyllwe. She's tiny. Either way, if the heating pad isn't on - VERY warm - she gets cranky and puffs out, and then whines. I haven't been able to lower the temp on the heating pad due to it. All the other babies don't go on it anymore.

Her squatting I think is related to the fact that she spent her first two days snuggled in my hands for warmth. It's just what she thinks is normal. Imagine a hen sitting on a nest all the time. That's pretty much all she likes to do. She'll half raise to walk around, and as soon as she's done moving she goes right back to sitting. She'll even do it when she pauses moving. I've just accepted that her brain may be wired wrong.

She's also the one who calls everyone to bed. You WILL sleep when she's tired. She will follow the other babies around and cry until they give up and go to bed. Nevermind that they're busy digging for bugs, eating, drinking, or roosting on a perch. It's BED TIME. And she WILL be in the center of the pack. No exceptions. She tries to snuggle the others if she decides she's even slightly cold at all. They just ignore her.

She also figured out worms before the other babies! I had her outside because the weather was fantastic. She found a worm, let the others poke at it, and then decided she had to run clear across the yard twice with it. I'm not sure she's figured out that they're dinner, but she knows that they need to be protected from the other babies. She lags behind the others when it's time for treats, though. Maybe that's why she defends her worms so fiercely.


She's still very shy, and easily bullied, but quick to become the bully if you let her. I have to keep an eye on her to make sure she's never even slightly cold ever, pull her out for treats so she doesn't get bullied/bully others, and try to keep her away from The Trouble Bird. She's quick to remind, at least. I think when it's time to rehome her she's going to have to go to a very special family that can deal with a needy baby.

Even still, SHE DID IT!!!!!


She's survived all my inexperience, the trauma of the post office, and being a tiny baby. I can say that she 100 percent would NOT have made it without all the help you all gave me. She's going to be a happy, healthy, spoiled little brat.

So from both of us, THANK YOU! I'd much rather deal with her joining the Trouble Team all the time than trying to die on me.




(Her a week ago. She still thinks she needs to sit when you pick her up. Or did before the Trouble Team became a thing)

(her two days ago. I think she's trying to become one with the grass. It was the first time it had hit 50F outside with nothing but sun and a light breeze.)

(Her this afternoon, keeping me company while I cleaned up the broken statues and garden. Her Other Half is keeping her company. She DOES walk - very well.)