I'm In The Club!

[Hazard]

The only reason I have her by herslf is that the other trample her when screwing around (which I have learned they constantly do!). She is ok with them and them with her, but they are just too rambunctious and she gets caught in the middle.

These things are too funny! I love how they almost fall asleep standing up and then fall over, awake, and try to figure out what just happened. Also funny when 14 of them are almost all asleep at once, and then number 15 decides it needs to screw off and then they are all back up again.

 

[Vickilynn45]

The only reason I have her by herslf is that the other trample her when screwing around (which I have learned they constantly do!). She is ok with them and them with her, but they are just too rambunctious and she gets caught in the middle.

These things are too funny! I love how they almost fall asleep standing up and then fall over, awake, and try to figure out what just happened. Also funny when 14 of them are almost all asleep at once, and then number 15 decides it needs to screw off and then they are all back up again.

We used to laugh when they would fall asleep standing up and slowly sink down. And like you said, there is always one that has to dive-bomb the group all huddled together. I can see why they fall asleep so much as they never seem to get to sleep long with someone always stepping on them.

 

[LaPetiteFarmer]

Congrats on your new chicks!!! Mine are suppose to arrive in a month, can't wait!!!
I hope your injured chick gets better... keep us posted.

 

[Hazard]

I keep making her drink every 1 - 1 1/2 hours or so. Just about 2-3 beak fulls at a time. Again, all she wants to do is sleep. When I do wake her she is very alert and attentive. Squirms around a bit as normal. Then you place her back down, she stands for about 30 seconds, "getting sleepy........getting very sleepy", then sits right down and falls asleep. I did sprinkle a bit of crushed up started crumbs in front of her and from the laying position, she immediately pecked at them. That only lasted about 5 seconds and she dozed off again.

I gotta leave these little guys alone from 6:30PM-10:30PM and that is what I am nervous about. I don't know if I should leave her by herself for that time or put her back in the mix with the others.

 

[Hazard]

Sorry for the play by play, but some of you have jumped aboard this train and I feel compelled to update...

The last time I checked on her I found her standing on her own. She seems to be slowly gaining some energy. By no means perfect, but she SEEMS to be coming along. She will stand for a minute or two on her own and then slowly relax down into a laying position. As long as she keeps doing that I will be happy. She really looked like she wanted to be with the others at one point. I put her in with the mix and she stood there pecking like the others, but was pretty wobbly among them. So only after about 3 minutes I secluded her again and she is sleeping.

I will leave here in her own box when I leave here in a little bit for 4 hours.

The others I have been slowly giving some crushed starter crumbs and they are going crazy for it. I am certain they are all drinking frequently so I think I will turn them loose on starter here shortly. They have lost interest now in the GroGel, but they did like it the first half of the day coming out of their packing box. Some people love the stuff others say it is a waste of money, but I think it worked well for an initial jolt of energy and hydration.

 

[RonC]

She won't need to eat for another day or so only being a day old. Hopefully she'll get that leg working properly and start eating. The stress of shipping can be tough on them. Best of luck on your new adventure.

 

[Hazard]

Well, I am happy to report that all 15 chicks made it through their first night with me as their mother. Today is Thursday and they are now 3 days old since hatching out and shipping on Monday.

ALL are eating and drinking regularly. This includes the chick I was having problems with (and now another -- see below).

The original problem chick ("W1" I am calling her for now), was in the condition I reported above when I left her for a few hours last night. I thought I was seeing gradual improvement. When I returned last night, she lacked the energy she had when I had left. Not sure what to think of it, maybe she was in a nice deep sleep the whole time and just not coming out of it easily when I saw her later? Anyhow, this morning, she still seems to be somewhat better then her best condition of yesterday. Eating and drinking regularly. Seems as though she is getting up and re-situating herself more often which is good. Nice short exercises.

I have another chick "W2" that has become a bit of a problem for us. I think the symptoms were there yesterday, but I was too overwhelmed with W1 that I may have just overlooked the situation. She is also a sleeper. When she is up, no problem eating or drinking, standing or walking. BUT SHE LIKES TO SLEEP!!! My wife first noticed it while I was out last night and I confirmed that she didn't awake the entire time I was out for 4 hours. I put her in the separate box with W1 and both were thankfully alive this morning. They are still in the box together today.

When they are awake, both are alert, attentive, want to eat or drink. Pooh does not seem to be an issue either. Nothing to do but go visit every hour or so and wait wait wait......

By the way, W1 & W2 are both Welsummer chicks, hence the "W". No, I, I'm not going to name my birds for real.

 

[Hazard]

Oh one more thing, all chicks are on full time starter crumble as of last night and LOVING it!!!!

 

[Izzymoon]

I offered the chick starter from day one along with the gro-gel. Some tried it, but they pretty much slept the first day. They are spoiled, I still give them gro-gel if they do something stressful, like moving around from brooder to coop or outside. Not a lot, just enough to boost their nutrients a little They eat it like candy

 

[RonC]

I had one that seemed to act as you discribed. She's grown out of now and doing fine. We tend to worry alot aout our little fuzzybutts. I guess the more you raise you learn what to expect and not worry so much. And sure you're not going to name them, I'll bet at least a couple will get names. Only reason mine don't all have names is I can't tell three of them apart!