Help! Chicks dumped on my sidewalk!

[wapple]

Someone dumped two little babies right on our sidewalk next to the road! I know they were dumped because there was a turned over, filty milk crate where they had clearly been kept on the sidewalk with them. We have two adult hens, so the person must have known we'd take them in. I think our coop is big enough to accomodate them so we've decided to keep them and raise them till they're old enough to join the big girls. Fingers crossed they weren't dumped because they're roosters, because we're not allowed to have those in my city! I've never raised chicks (our adults were rescued from a vet school study at 1 yr old), so I'd love some expert knowledge on how old they might be, maybe what breeds they are, when they can move outside, etc. I think they are different breeds because one is substantially bigger and lighter in color than the other. We are in a warm climate and don't use AC so I'm hoping they're fine without a heat lamp. From what I've read on these forums about feathers growing in related to age, I'd guess they're 4-5 wks old? They are starting to have feathers come in on their heads I think, and they have feathers on their wings, backs, and some on the chest. Any help would be much appreciated!

[/IMG]

 

[farnorth]

I would guess between 3 and 4 weeks. They are not as feathered as my 5 week olds. They probably don't need a heat lamp if it's not cold at night.

 

[chickeelina]

Awww poor babies! You should take more photos and post them in some other forums where there are threads of like 1,000 and u will get tons of replies to help figure sex and breed. Keep them in a garage at night at least or any light that heats will do for warmth. They need to eat medicated chick starter until 12 weeks and a dewormer would be good. Start with WAZINE. Who knows what conditions they came from and what is in their intestines! Gotta clear the way!!! Then 2 weeks later de-worm with Safeguard Goat 10% and Valbazan alternating each of those 2 types every 2 weeks until 12 weeks old. I learned this from The Dragon Lady on BYC who has the most amazing show birds, Champion Buff Orpingtons! I just bought a trio from her and they arrive next week to sunny California!

Anyway, this deworming schedule will really help them

Goodluck! FYI from these photos I think they look like girls!

 

[JessicaThistle]

Someone dumped two little babies right on our sidewalk next to the road! I know they were dumped because there was a turned over, filty milk crate where they had clearly been kept on the sidewalk with them. We have two adult hens, so the person must have known we'd take them in. I think our coop is big enough to accomodate them so we've decided to keep them and raise them till they're old enough to join the big girls. Fingers crossed they weren't dumped because they're roosters, because we're not allowed to have those in my city! I've never raised chicks (our adults were rescued from a vet school study at 1 yr old), so I'd love some expert knowledge on how old they might be, maybe what breeds they are, when they can move outside, etc. I think they are different breeds because one is substantially bigger and lighter in color than the other. We are in a warm climate and don't use AC so I'm hoping they're fine without a heat lamp. From what I've read on these forums about feathers growing in related to age, I'd guess they're 4-5 wks old? They are starting to have feathers come in on their heads I think, and they have feathers on their wings, backs, and some on the chest. Any help would be much appreciated!

[/URL]

Oh my goodness, I'm a newbie and there's no way I could turn those two sweeties away! I would definitely second Chickeelina that you should put them on medicated food since you don't know where they came from. I couldn't tell you what breed they are but that doesn't matter anyway. They need a chance at a good life. They could be about 4 weeks thinking back to what mine looked like. I imagine that they will be fine after they are fed, watered and settled in.

 

[wapple]

Thanks for the advice! My vet student friend stopped by and looked them over. The verdict is that they are about 4 wks old and super skinny - poor babies! No mites but she also suggested worming them. They're small for their age so she thinks they might be smaller breeds, which will make introducing them to our big fat rhode island red and leghorn cross interesting... Most likely, based on their age, they were bought as easter chicks and then not wanted and dumped :-(

I'm excited to get them fattened up and in good shape! I'll get them the Wazine and go from there. Any suggestions chickeelina of what forum would be good to post pictures to for further breed IDing? It'd be helpful for monitoring their development.

Thanks again!

 

[chickeelina]

For deworming schedule i use The Dragon Lady's. Its on her facebook page, go to the main page and click on FILES, its in there.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/orpingtoninfointernational/


For posting in a large thread, not sure try this one that i just found for you....

Baby Chick Pictures!!!!! POST! (try just doing a search or look in Forum, Backyard Chickens, Raising Baby Chicks)