From egg to chick!

[ElfenLied89]

I have . . . hm, how many males do I have? Let's see . . . Phoenix, Jasper, Slate, Orchid, and Winter. That makes five. I might as well be not counting Winter because he's going to be re-homed.

I love their names!

 

[ElfenLied89]

I'd keep him with any bird or birds that gets along with him.

I will try to pick him some flock babies to hang with. Would 1 or 2 pullets or cockerels mess with him?

 

[TwoCrows]

Crop is smaller. Less hard but not super squishy either. He is on a water diet again today. And whatever he forages for himself of course.

Until his crop is normal alongvwith his appetite, you might keep him from free range foraging as he may keep stuffing himself. Impactions are difficult to treat. Just water soluble foods like chicken feed only, it won't jam up his Gizzard. Yes, lots of water.

 

[TwoCrows]

I will try to pick him some flock babies to hang with. Would 1 or 2 pullets or cockerels mess with him?

You will just have to try and see how it goes, who will get along with him. Id definitely chose young low ranking more timid birds to mix with him.

 

[ElfenLied89]

You will just have to try and see how it goes, who will get along with him. Id definitely chose young low ranking more timid birds to mix with him.

How do I find out who is who? I am still new to chicken hierarchy. I think I can see the pullets who sit at the top (which are the oldest ladies atm). Celestia seems to be one of the top ones.

 

[ElfenLied89]

Until his crop is normal alongvwith his appetite, you might keep him from free range foraging as he may keep stuffing himself. Impactions are difficult to treat. Just water soluble foods like chicken feed only, it won't jam up his Gizzard. Yes, lots of water.

Well he is in the straw and flake area. Not much to forage over there. I will def take some starter and get it all mushy. Should I combine it with just water or do yogurt or applesauce?

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

I love their names!

Thank you!

I will try to pick him some flock babies to hang with. Would 1 or 2 pullets or cockerels mess with him?

Cockerels will fight if they are put together. Pullets won't fight with a cockerel unless he does something they don't like.

How do I find out who is who? I am still new to chicken hierarchy. I think I can see the pullets who sit at the top (which are the oldest ladies atm). Celestia seems to be one of the top ones.

Whoever is the oldest, strongest, and the biggest bully of the flock will always be the most dominant. The most dominant hens are the ones who likely will appear the most healthy and they will have bigger crops because they eat more. Females who are more submissive and are lower on the pecking order will look more rough and they won't eat as much due to being chased off.

 

[TwoCrows]

How do I find out who is who? I am still new to chicken hierarchy. I think I can see the pullets who sit at the top (which are the oldest ladies atm). Celestia seems to be one of the top ones.

Which birds get chased, who gets pecked the most, which birds are last to eat treats, who is last to roost, who roosts on the end or lower, who is last out of the coop, who cries all the time.... these are your lower ranking birds.

 

[TwoCrows]

Well he is in the straw and flake area. Not much to forage over there. I will def take some starter and get it all mushy. Should I combine it with just water or do yogurt or applesauce?

Normally it's a good idea to dampen chicken feed to get birds to eat, they love mash feed. But in his case we don't want him eating too much but we don't want him hungry either. So plain old dry chicken feed for now. He probably won't over stuff himself on dry feed. AND dry feed will make him thirsty, the more he drinks, the faster his crop will return to normal.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Which birds get chased, who gets pecked the most, which birds are last to eat treats, who is last to roost, who roosts on the end or lower, who is last out of the coop, who cries all the time.... these are your lower ranking birds.

Good explanation! Regarding the "last to roost part," I had an Easter Egger hen named Lavender who was lower on the pecking order than I have ever seen before. She would always sleep on the ground and her back would get pooped on during the night. Lower-ranking birds are usually the first to get sick as well if disease is spread. Lavender was very weak because she was constantly bullied. She couldn't walk fast and was always slow. Her balance was off and she would fall on her face if she tried to lift off. Eventually, she died because she got bumblefoot that was severe and spread all along one leg. Her body couldn't handle it.