I just tried to take pictures of the chicks outside and they are hiding in the bushes and won't come out. If I get another chance today then I'll post them.
Hatch-Along - Hatching GS Barred / Blue Plymouth Rock Prize Eggs from Easter Hatch-along Natural Egg Photo contest
- Thread starter JoyfulPromise
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- #42
Cool! That will be neat to have some pictures of young birds of the same breed to compare with. Thanks!
BTW, "Little Spot" as I am calling the last little chick that hatched with the white spot on her head, is definitely different in coloration than any of the other chicks. She seems to have darker shaded stripes of coloring along either side of her back, not drastic, but definitely noticeable if you are looking at her closely. I was a little worried about her at first, because she was so small, and cried a lot, but she seems to be doing great now and is right in there scratching and eating and running with the others.
I will try and get a clearer picture of just her later so you can see what I mean.
BTW, "Little Spot" as I am calling the last little chick that hatched with the white spot on her head, is definitely different in coloration than any of the other chicks. She seems to have darker shaded stripes of coloring along either side of her back, not drastic, but definitely noticeable if you are looking at her closely. I was a little worried about her at first, because she was so small, and cried a lot, but she seems to be doing great now and is right in there scratching and eating and running with the others.
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- #43
Well, the 8 little Rock chicks are 2 weeks old today, and I meant to get an updated picture of them but didn't get a chance. Maybe tomorrow.
They are all doing well, and growing... except...
This afternoon my brother brought one of the two solid black chicks inside. He said he thought it might have something stuck in it's throat, because it had its mouth wide open and seemed to sort of gasp a bit and then it would shake its head like it was trying to get something out. I had noticed this same chick earlier doing a bit of heavy breathing with its mouth open, but I thought it was just hot, since it has been up to 90 F today and quite humid, so I just made sure they were in the shade and had fresh water etc. Upon examining it I could not feel ANYTHING in its crop, in fact I could not feel a crop at all. Just a skinny little neckbone and spine. The chick had a tiny bit of dried white poo stuck on some fuzz near its vent, but not blocking at all, though the vent seemed rather tiny, even for a chick IMO. We tried to look in its mouth and down its throat a little, but could not see anything obvious. It loudly and strongly cheeped and protested being away from its mother. It didn't do the gasping thing all the time, just every so often it would kind of open its beak wide and act like it was breathing hard, and then shake its head hard and maybe do a little squeak, or cough. I put it back with the momma hen, and it ran over to her in their box, and kind of stood around for a while still doing the gasping thing every so often. I did see it come out near its siblings and do a little normal chick scratching in the bedding though. The main thing that worries me is that it doesn't seem to try to eat much. Like I said, I could not feel its crop at all, and when I gave them some more food in their little dish, all the chicks, including this one crowded around to peck through it, but after a second or two, this one turned away and just stood there, like it was not interested in eating.
I haven't seen it drink water on its own recently either, but I haven't been watching them for a long time, so that doesn't mean anything.
I am worried though - while watching it with the other chicks I noticed that they all looked a little bigger and more filled out than this one... is there anything I can do to try and help it?
They are getting soaked/fermented chick feed, and I have given them chick grit several times, plus they have been free ranging around our backyard with their adopted momma hen, scratching in the dirt, grass, etc. I have given them small live mealworms once a day for a treat and protein boost. I also put Apple Cider Vinegar in their water most of the time.
I really hope I am worried about nothing, I remember I thought the youngest chick, Little Spot, wasn't going to make it right at first, and she is as strong and as big as any of them now. But it is more worrisome happening now, at 2 weeks old.
Praying for some answers or for healing for this little chick!
They are all doing well, and growing... except...
This afternoon my brother brought one of the two solid black chicks inside. He said he thought it might have something stuck in it's throat, because it had its mouth wide open and seemed to sort of gasp a bit and then it would shake its head like it was trying to get something out. I had noticed this same chick earlier doing a bit of heavy breathing with its mouth open, but I thought it was just hot, since it has been up to 90 F today and quite humid, so I just made sure they were in the shade and had fresh water etc. Upon examining it I could not feel ANYTHING in its crop, in fact I could not feel a crop at all. Just a skinny little neckbone and spine. The chick had a tiny bit of dried white poo stuck on some fuzz near its vent, but not blocking at all, though the vent seemed rather tiny, even for a chick IMO. We tried to look in its mouth and down its throat a little, but could not see anything obvious. It loudly and strongly cheeped and protested being away from its mother. It didn't do the gasping thing all the time, just every so often it would kind of open its beak wide and act like it was breathing hard, and then shake its head hard and maybe do a little squeak, or cough. I put it back with the momma hen, and it ran over to her in their box, and kind of stood around for a while still doing the gasping thing every so often. I did see it come out near its siblings and do a little normal chick scratching in the bedding though. The main thing that worries me is that it doesn't seem to try to eat much. Like I said, I could not feel its crop at all, and when I gave them some more food in their little dish, all the chicks, including this one crowded around to peck through it, but after a second or two, this one turned away and just stood there, like it was not interested in eating.
I am worried though - while watching it with the other chicks I noticed that they all looked a little bigger and more filled out than this one... is there anything I can do to try and help it?
They are getting soaked/fermented chick feed, and I have given them chick grit several times, plus they have been free ranging around our backyard with their adopted momma hen, scratching in the dirt, grass, etc. I have given them small live mealworms once a day for a treat and protein boost. I also put Apple Cider Vinegar in their water most of the time.
I really hope I am worried about nothing, I remember I thought the youngest chick, Little Spot, wasn't going to make it right at first, and she is as strong and as big as any of them now. But it is more worrisome happening now, at 2 weeks old.
Praying for some answers or for healing for this little chick!
- Thread starter
- #44
Sadly, I must report that this morning we found the sick little black rock chick dead in the box with his mother hen and siblings.
He had been running around with them all week but I kept noticing how small he was compared to the other seven chicks and he would never eat much food at all, maybe one or two grain pieces before losing interest, and he had that strange gasp or breathing problem, which seemed to get worse when we tried to get him to drink vitamin water. So while I am VERY sad that we lost one of our special Rock chicks, I am also a little bit relieved that his suffering is over. I hesitated to put him down, because he seemed to have so much life and fight in him, despite his obvious problem, and he wanted to be with his adopted mom and siblings so much. I am glad he at least had the last few days running around with them in the grass.
The other seven are doing great and getting bigger, though as Brookhaven warned, there is not much feather action going on at all yet. They follow Little Girl all over the yard, and love hiding under bushes and looking for bugs with her.
Color wise, it looks like we definitely have one Blue Barred, 3 solid Blues, 1 (left) solid Black, 1 Black Barred (Little Spot), and one I am pretty sure is a Splash. A nice variety, though I am sad we lost the second solid Black. But I know these things happen. I just wish there was something we could have done to help him.
I will try and get an updated picture on here soon, I promise!
The other seven are doing great and getting bigger, though as Brookhaven warned, there is not much feather action going on at all yet. They follow Little Girl all over the yard, and love hiding under bushes and looking for bugs with her.
Color wise, it looks like we definitely have one Blue Barred, 3 solid Blues, 1 (left) solid Black, 1 Black Barred (Little Spot), and one I am pretty sure is a Splash. A nice variety, though I am sad we lost the second solid Black. But I know these things happen. I just wish there was something we could have done to help him.
I will try and get an updated picture on here soon, I promise!
Sorry to hear he didn't make it. I just lost a 2 week old chick also. Was fine when I went to bed. Eating, drinking, running around. No problems what so ever and when I woke up he was dead in the brooder. Sometimes I wonder if there little hearts just don't acclimate to the outside world and after fighting/trying it just gives out.
As for the feathering you are going to walk in there one morning and POOF they are there. I remember walking outside to feed the one morning and the 2 chicks my broody hatched had feathers overnight. I'll warn you though my momma at 6 weeks said enough of this and the chicks were on their own. She will still hang with the during the day but at night she wants to be high up on the roost away from the kids.
As for the feathering you are going to walk in there one morning and POOF they are there. I remember walking outside to feed the one morning and the 2 chicks my broody hatched had feathers overnight. I'll warn you though my momma at 6 weeks said enough of this and the chicks were on their own. She will still hang with the during the day but at night she wants to be high up on the roost away from the kids.
- Thread starter
- #46
Thanks Brookhavens! Sorry you lost a chick too.
I know there can be unexplained reasons, perhaps they just didn't develop something all the way. I am happy that the rest of the chicks are looking VERY healthy and vigorous.
Can't wait to see more feather color and patterns showing, but I am trying to be patient.
As to the broody leaving them early, I will keep an eye on that. Right now they sleep and eat in a lightly fenced off corner of the main coop, they are still sleeping under Mama in a cardboard nest box with straw.
We have another broody BO who left her chicks at 4 weeks old last year - I am watching her because she has some 3 week old mixed chicks from our laying flock right now. I can already see that she and the chicks are both getting more independent and not staying together all the time.
Little Girl though, (the one who is raising the Rocks) is much more laid back and tends to stay with her chicks much longer. She(Little Girl) is a calmer and more timid broody mama than Sissy, the other BO, who is a clucky nervous and pushy whirlwind when broody!
Can't wait to see more feather color and patterns showing, but I am trying to be patient.
As to the broody leaving them early, I will keep an eye on that. Right now they sleep and eat in a lightly fenced off corner of the main coop, they are still sleeping under Mama in a cardboard nest box with straw.
We have another broody BO who left her chicks at 4 weeks old last year - I am watching her because she has some 3 week old mixed chicks from our laying flock right now. I can already see that she and the chicks are both getting more independent and not staying together all the time.
Little Girl though, (the one who is raising the Rocks) is much more laid back and tends to stay with her chicks much longer. She(Little Girl) is a calmer and more timid broody mama than Sissy, the other BO, who is a clucky nervous and pushy whirlwind when broody!
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- Thread starter
- #47
FINALLY!! The promised Picture update!!!
I will apologize in advance for the poor quality of the pictures. It was sunny out, and my camera is a cheaper point and shoot, not much adjustment options. Plus the chicks are always on the move, so it was hard to get a good group shot. But anyway, here are the Rock chicks at 3 weeks old!
Above is a partial group shot around Mama's fluffy butt. You can see Little Spot - the only Black Barred chick on the left, the remaining Black chick in front, and a possible Splash on the right, with a Blue in back.
A closer view of the Black and possible Splash.
One of the three solid Blues.
A Blue & the possible Splash.
This is the only chick that grew wings out right away. I thought it was going to be a Blue Barred, because it did have a white patch on its head, but now I am not sure.
Here is that same chick next to Little Spot, who obviously is taking his/her time in growing its wings out, but the few bars that are showing are PERFECT!
Little Spot next to the remaining Black chick.
You said that Little Spot might be a pullet, Brookhavens, but I am starting to wonder...
Little Spot preening her few feathers.
And there you go! That is the best I have for today. I will continue to keep this thread updated as the chicks grow.
Above is a partial group shot around Mama's fluffy butt. You can see Little Spot - the only Black Barred chick on the left, the remaining Black chick in front, and a possible Splash on the right, with a Blue in back.
A closer view of the Black and possible Splash.
One of the three solid Blues.
A Blue & the possible Splash.
This is the only chick that grew wings out right away. I thought it was going to be a Blue Barred, because it did have a white patch on its head, but now I am not sure.
Here is that same chick next to Little Spot, who obviously is taking his/her time in growing its wings out, but the few bars that are showing are PERFECT!
Little Spot next to the remaining Black chick.
You said that Little Spot might be a pullet, Brookhavens, but I am starting to wonder...
Little Spot preening her few feathers.
And there you go! That is the best I have for today. I will continue to keep this thread updated as the chicks grow.
They are getting so big!
- Thread starter
- #49
Ok, here is the 4 week photo update on the Rock chicks. They are FINALLY starting to sprout some more feathers on their chests and legs!
Still a long way to go, but I am glad to see some progress...
Here is Mama hanging out with the chicks on the edge of our firepit - aka chicken dust bathing area...
Peek-a-boo! How many chicks do you see?
Here is a close-up of Little Spot - the one Barred chick.
Another picture of Spot next to the Light blue/splash chick...
What do you think? Girls, or Boys???
The only fast feathering chick - a blue, on top of Mom.
Another Blue who is just starting to get more feathers...
The only Black chick...
Stretching...
Top view of the black...
A Color and comb comparison - L to R - Black, Blue, Lt Blue/splash, Barred.
Any gender suggestions yet on these?
So there you go! Little Girl is still a faithful mommy to her 7 adopted chicks, though I did notice that the chicks themselves have been a bit more adventurous in the past few days... and have been getting "lost" from mommy more often...
I can't wait to see how the chicks turn out as they continue feathering! I will update with new pictures next week.
Here is Mama hanging out with the chicks on the edge of our firepit - aka chicken dust bathing area...
Peek-a-boo! How many chicks do you see?
Here is a close-up of Little Spot - the one Barred chick.
Another picture of Spot next to the Light blue/splash chick...
What do you think? Girls, or Boys???
The only fast feathering chick - a blue, on top of Mom.
Another Blue who is just starting to get more feathers...
The only Black chick...
Stretching...
Top view of the black...
A Color and comb comparison - L to R - Black, Blue, Lt Blue/splash, Barred.
Any gender suggestions yet on these?
So there you go! Little Girl is still a faithful mommy to her 7 adopted chicks, though I did notice that the chicks themselves have been a bit more adventurous in the past few days... and have been getting "lost" from mommy more often...
How are your beautiful babies doing JoyfulPromise?
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