Illinois...

[Pixie]

I was o.k. with the chicks in the basement, but in the last day, they got ACTIVE! Hopping (flying mostly) the barriers, lots of pecking-order fights and OMG eating way more! (Don't get me started on the poop situation) and then there is the dust they are kicking up now with the increase flapping.

Growth spurt??

These are Barred Rocks, my other batch was mostly Autstralorps. I think they spoiled me!

 

[Pixie]

Just got back from a school function (only gone for 3 hours) and it looks like a war zone in the brooder room! These birds can climb! Holy chicken poop! #smh. I WILL be moving them out tomorrow unless some miracle happens.

I repaired the brooder walls and turned out their big light, (nightlight still on) they spent 15 minutes doing the "freak out" chirping" without the big light. They never do that.

They are getting crazier (or I am!)

p.s. If anyone needs a young Barred Rock rooster cheap, let me know. I have plenty.

 

[Faraday40]

Yes. It sounds like it's time to find your chicks a bigger brooder somewhere outside.

My 1st home batch of EEs had to move out at 2 weeks. They were very active, dusty, & loud. Always pecking at things & each other. The 2nd group I raised were orps. I had them in the living room at 3 weeks old with no problems. They were content to snuggle & no pecking order disputes. Our 3rd & 4th hatches were a variety & I quickly learned that the amount of time with chicks in the living room depends on the breed as well as the number of chicks. I've stopped counting hatches & number of chicks raised, but since chicken math is alive & well, I always have plenty of extra feeders, waterers, heat lamps, & of course boxes & tubs that can be converted into a last min brooder.

 

[Junibutt]

My "coop" is a barn that is not really wired for electricity anymore due to it's age (1907), and the fire hazard is another cause for nightmares after reading all the posts on the other forums!

The garage is a good idea, but it is drafty. I thought about hardening them off out there, but I went out yesterday in the wind, closed the doors and realized it's not going to be a good choice.

Would a small upside down box structure where they could huddle in be something that might work? (Darn that chicken math -what was I thinking! LOL)

Good thing is that the weather is still nice outside during the day at least for the next couple of weeks. And yes, an upside down box would be perfect to protect from draft. What is important though , is that your chicks must know how to roost. If they don't, all 49 of them will try to pile on top of each other and there is s good possibility of someone getting crushed or suffocated.

 

[Junibutt]

Anyone has POL pullet(s) or young hen(s) for sale in the Chicagoland area. A friend in Chicago needs one or two to give company to a stray hen she found and adopted.

Kindly PM me the breed & asking price

 

[jerryse]

Anyone have pullets or hens in Golden laced or Silver laced Polish for sale ? Need 1 or more for a genetic project .

 

[ChicagoClucker]

Well my bad year just keeps getting worse. My splash chick that had the splayed legs, I believe has Marecks! I found her flopping about yesterday morning. I thought maybe a vitamin deficiency and ran up and got some poly vi sol, but she has gotten worse. This also means my 2 other splash and 5 isbars will be goners also. My worry is that even though they were down in the basement, could some of the virus been carried on my clothes, up and out to my other chickens? I guess time will tell. The new coop isn't even finished yet, and I might be done with chickens. I can't even bring myself to put the poor thing out of her misery.

 

[jerryse]

Well my bad year just keeps getting worse. My splash chick that had the splayed legs, I believe has Marecks! I found her flopping about yesterday morning. I thought maybe a vitamin deficiency and ran up and got some poly vi sol, but she has gotten worse. This also means my 2 other splash and 5 isbars will be goners also. My worry is that even though they were down in the basement, could some of the virus been carried on my clothes, up and out to my other chickens? I guess time will tell. The new coop isn't even finished yet, and I might be done with chickens. I can't even bring myself to put the poor thing out of her misery.

The others may not get Marecks . I have found Marecks can be contracted by growing chicks longer than I first read . So she may have contracted it after she left the basement . It could have been carried on your clothes but that is a long shot IMO .

 

[ChicagoClucker]

The others may not get Marecks . I have found Marecks can be contracted by growing chicks longer than I first read . So she may have contracted it after she left the basement . It could have been carried on your clothes but that is a long shot IMO .

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They are still down in the basement and have never been outside The splashes are about a month and the isbars 2 weeks old. I am worried about my older chickens outside, whether or not they will catch it, if it was carried on my clothes. I hope not! I had bought a used rabbit cage from a woman who also has chickens, I thought it would be perfect for the chicks. I did wash and bleach it out before using it, but from what I've read nothing except a serious freeze and thaw, will kill it, but I highly doubt it was from the cage anyways.

 

[jessr779]

Well my bad year just keeps getting worse. My splash chick that had the splayed legs, I believe has Marecks! I found her flopping about yesterday morning. I thought maybe a vitamin deficiency and ran up and got some poly vi sol, but she has gotten worse. This also means my 2 other splash and 5 isbars will be goners also. My worry is that even though they were down in the basement, could some of the virus been carried on my clothes, up and out to my other chickens? I guess time will tell. The new coop isn't even finished yet, and I might be done with chickens. I can't even bring myself to put the poor thing out of her misery.

I am so sorry, that must be devastating. Hugs