I spent hours reading everyone's post.I have 8 sweet 4 WK old wyandotte babies myself and wish so much I knew whether they are Ladies or Gents. 10 Weeks ago I got 10 Golden Wyandotte Chicks from the local farm auction and they changed my life forever! Without going into gory detail. One day exactly 5 weeks later I saw a teenager beside their cage...his dog inside. On top of my dead chicks.They were in the front yard right outside the window. I was devastated. They have since been replaced with 4 golden & 4 blue laced red wyandotte chicks who are now 4 weeks old from the same auction. My fear is they are all roosters! One is very aggressive and broke the skin on two others.I can't bear losing anymore! I need help! As soon as I learn how to add pictures I hope someone can help me.
Greetings from Kansas and . Pleased you joined us. Sounds like you are going through the ups and downs of chicken rearing. Sorry about your losses. I'm distrusting of poultry auctions generally as I have known people to order straight run (birds not sexed when ordered) and then they keep the females and sell the males at auction, claiming they are hens or at the very least claiming not to know what sex they are. I'm not suggested everyone selling at an auction is unscrupulous in this fashion, but I have seen a few. So, if you have an aggressive bird(s) I would separate it from the rest...in the same area so they can see and be near each other, but partitioned so the aggressor can't hurt anyone. When you get the hang of it, posting clear pictures in this link https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this will yield some accurate responses regarding gender. I hope for all hens!
Hi and welcome to BYC! I'm sorry to hear that, that's awful. You can clean the wounds out with some warm water, saline solution, or Vetricyn. After that you can put some Blu-Kote on mask the red color and discourage more pecking. As Redsoxs said, it would be a good idea to separate the aggressive chickens. Best of luck with your flock and thanks for joining us!
I wouldn't play around with the aggressive one, I'd offer it as a entree for someone's dinner - you and your birds have suffered enough. If it's trouble, male or female - it is GONE! You really need a break from the bad ones, so you can discover how great you can feel with good ones. Makes me think of my old time dating years.
At 6 weeks old they have become quite independant! Oh, they have a love affair with any piece of newspaper or rag.Without a rag or ' blanket' to go to sleep on they will cry as if you broke their hearts! As with any good house keeper, they straighten it out with beaks and claws and then crawl onto it. If you are still watching, you will see them tuck the rag in around them.Im rest assured now that I dont have all roosters. And the aggressive rooster has become the great fatherly protector. Fights have diminished. I have them in my fenced in garden so if one gets lost, hes the one to find them. When I let them out of the garden on an exploration of the big wide world under my supervision hes the last one through the gate!
Its a happy time when I give them time to explore the world without any fences. I just dont like the black cat prowling around. I believe she has no home and dont want her to make it here or nearby
Welcome to Backyard chickens Lovesfarms!! I hope you enjoy it and the camaraderie here and everybody that goes nuts over chickens (me being one of them....) Have fun! And ask questions! I know how you feel losing them, I lost 5 Golden Laced Wyandottes a month ago to a weasel and I felt terrible, but it is nice to start anew, with the new goal of giving them the best life possible and safe as possible. You do look like you have a cockerel there. You have gorgeous wyandottes!! I am jealous.
