First Run of Cornish Cross Meat Birds and Super Excited!

[holm25]

I AM SO SORRY ABOUT BERT RALPH!! I HOPE HE MAKES IT!! U R GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A SLIDE SHOW FOR MEMORIES OF ALL THE AMAZING TIMES U GUYS HAD.

 

[Turkeytruff]

Not a lot you can do. Immediately after hatching I put a clean bit of gauze on the area and put one in an egg cup for a few hours propped up against something. But usually they absorb it. Have got a picture? How much is it protruding?

 

[holm25]

I'll go get a pic quick...

 

[duluthralphie]

Bert was alive this morning and actually looks better.

I have been giving Bert his antibiotics with an eye dropper, he fought me on it once he started to get a tad better. I am wondering if he did not aspirate some of it during the "take your medicine fight". He was not "wheezing and gurgling this morning. He still is a long ways from healthy.

I wonder if I am just fighting nature and genetics when I try to get him better. He is on his own today as I am in the suburbs, (yuck) performing Grandpa Daycare duties. My DW has arranged her schedule to give herself a slight break between patients so she can come check on Bert.

BTW I have now mixed Bert's antibiotics in his drinking water so he takes them willingly.


Thanks Holms. I actually was thinking last night I wish I had gotten a picture of Bert and his harem. I was always going to but was busy and figured I would do it tomorrow.


How many hens can one rooster handle? If Bert leaves us, I would have Ed in with Bert's left over gals (3).
Ernie would get 2 BA hens and 3 BSL hens for a total of five. Can Ole take on and handle 22 gals? Remember he is the horndog of the flock. He spends his day stalking and trying to grab girls. (If he was a person, he would be doing time or be a registered sex offender)

 

[holm25]

I dont know what's wrong with him. Now that I look at it I don't think it's unabsorbed yoke sack. It just isn't doing good

.

 

[holm25]

Ralph I think 1 roo can handle about 10-12 hens. But that's what I read so I dont know for sure.

 

[duluthralphie]

I dont know what's wrong with him. Now that I look at it I don't think it's unabsorbed yoke sack. It just isn't doing good

.

I have had this occur and found if you just keep him separate and in the incubator/hatcher they will "sometimes" absorb the yolk and be fine in 2 days or will be dead, that's is the way with chicks.

He is a cute little guy, I hope he makes it.


Yea, I had read 10-12hens too. I might try releasing Ernie every few days (once I get him separate) to service the girls Ole misses (which may not be many), then lock Ernie up again. Or give Ernie and Ed more hens to get Ole's numbers down. It really is funny to watch Ole. He is such a cocky little guy. He walks with purpose while stalking the girls. Then we he sees one, he runs full speed at them, they of course, see him coming and run as fast as they can away from him. He wil chase them a couple hundred feet and either catch them or give up. I am thinking he needs to work on his pick up lines.

 

[Morrigan]

holm -- I hope your chick makes it. The pictures of the others are really cute.

Ralphie -- my fingers and toes are crossed for Bert.

Update for me. This morning the two weaker chickens did not get out of the coop to eat. When I lifted them up and set them in front of food both ate with a fair amount of interest. I then set them in front of the waterer and one drank and both shuffled away using their wings. Their eyes look clear, no wheezing or sneezing, the body temp seems normal, and their poo looks normal. I really just looks as though their legs don't have the strength to properly support them, which seems to be a very typical problem, versus an illness. The rest of the chickens look fine. We are going to process them later this morning and will look carefully at the insides before deciding whether to eat.

 

[duluthralphie]

Quote:
I found with my first batch the same thing. They would be "crippled" but if moved to the food and water would still consume it. Sounds like Freezer Camp day has arrived. Be sure to wait a few days before eating them..

 

[Morrigan]

Quote:
Will do Ralphie. I think I got over-confident as I got really lucky with my last batch, which had zero leg problems. All were thriving when freezer camp came at 9 to 10 weeks. They were doing so well it was hard to let go. Every batch is different and the weather conditions are different too. In the future, I'm not going to give any extra protein and try to time my flocks better so they are maturing during cooler weather.