INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

Thought I should update. Our pullet passed away this evening. We finally got her out from under the coop and in the cage, but never even made it inside. I picked her up to check her out and she immediately started losing a bunch of clear fluid out her beak. I could tell that she wasn't going to make it, so I wrapped her in a towel in my lap and petted her. It was less than 5 minutes and she was gone. As a new chicken owner, that was pretty rough, but it just felt right to hold her and let her pass. After inspecting her, I think she had sour crop. Her crop was all squishy, even though she had not eaten or drank anything today. There was also a sour smell when the liquid was coming out.

She is the most antisocial chicken we had. She rarely comes around any other chickens. She was always hiding in the background, scared of her shadow. We definitely couldn't hold her. Some days I probably didn't see her at all. I suppose it would be easy for this to go undetected in a chicken like her, but I still feel crappy.

I am so sorry, its never easy.

Tickled pink right now. My Buff Brahma, Puff, has hatched her very first egg!! It was not one of hers, Americana egg shell pieces were left behind but least it was an success. One healthy little chick. I guess there's no need for an incubator now since mama Puff is in the house

Congrats on your first hatch!

 

[Greenthumb83]

So sorry for you're loss. I realize this is a late response but signs sound like Cocci to me. In the end the runny white feces is the end result just prior to death. Corid powder at rural king should be given to to remaining flock. Typically one has it they all get it. Wet weather new free range space. Many factors. Just make sure you treat as a outbreak and not prevention. Make sure it's the only source of water and they should be good.

I didn't realize there was a risk. We did bring home a Cocci chick from TSC when we first started out 6 months ago, but all have been fine since. This flock has not ever left their coop and run, since going in. I still have Corrid on hand though, so I will treat the rest as a precaution. I am not risking losing anyone else. I am still in disbelief. I didn't see her much yesterday, but the day before that, she was her normal self....trying to steal food from the littles (She was on the bottom of the pecking order and not all that pleasant personality-wise). We were all sad to lose her though. She was 1 of our first chicks. We had a little funeral for her, so the boys could say goodbye.

Thank you for the advise. I really hadn't thought of that.

 

[Faraday40]

Okay, so instead of next to the pen, I should put the chicks IN the pen inside their own? Either way is OK as long as they're warm, safe from hens, weather, & predators.
And then after their 4-6 weeks, do the hole in the bucket method right? You don't need that if you have a safe cage. Block off part of the door so only chicks may pass.

(Sorry, first timer, want to do it right the first time! Lol) There's truly not a right way to do it.

If you have the space to put their brooder inside the coop, great. If they still need heat & electrical cords, then it's up to you to decide where they should be. (If you don't want cords in the coop, then better to have them sleep somewhere else. I bring chicks outside only on nice days when it's naturally warm enough for them to be out (temp requirements vary by age). That is my personal preference b/c I don't like heaters in the coop/run, but everyone's different. When the chicks are between 4-6 weeks - depending on weather, so earlier in the hot summer months - they are old enough to no longer need supplemental heat. (They will need good protection from drafts & a place to snuggle.)

The timing of when I move their cage to the coop/run varies due to the conditions.
1. Broody hen's chicks- go into the cage as soon as all the eggs are hatched. Door is opened around age 5-7 days. No worries about heat or bullying b/c mama does it all.
2.If nights are cool, then I have the chicks sleep in the garage brooder but take day trips to where they can see the flock.
3. Heat of Summer. The chicks' cage may move into the coop/run at 2-3 weeks old, so there's a longer intro period before I first open their cage door.

My coop is small & doesn't have the floor space to add a cage. My covered run is pretty much like a 2nd larger coop (when I add the winter "storm windows") & it's like a breezy screened room with hardware cloth in the summer. I feel the chicks are safe in there, so that's where I put their cage. There are a lot of night time predators, so overnight safety is another consideration. Some people have a small separate coop/run set up next to their regular enclosure just for chicks, broodies, &/or injuries. (I don't have that luxury, but would like one!) All they have to do is let the chickens see each other for a few weeks & then open the door one day during free range time. Like I said, you have to find what will work for you.

You'll have to watch your hens & their reactions. My hens are pretty used to chicks coming & going. They do not bully little chicks, but they will take offense if a young chicken tries to eat from their bowl. That's why I provide a safe zone for the chicks when I 1st begin to open the door. I often first open the chick's cage door about a week after I moved their cage to the coop/run. I do it on a day when I can observe periodically. The chicks quickly learn to stay away from the hens while enjoying their new found freedom to explore. I've never had a hen draw blood, but it's tough to see them get those warning pecks. From age 8 wks to 20/25wks, the chicks form their own mini flock & hang back. They remind me of the teen cousins at family get-togethers. Part of the flock, but keep their distance. When they finally grow up, they'll share in all the adult activities.

 

[Faraday40]

Thought I should update. Our pullet passed away this evening. We finally got her out from under the coop and in the cage, but never even made it inside. I picked her up to check her out and she immediately started losing a bunch of clear fluid out her beak. I could tell that she wasn't going to make it, so I wrapped her in a towel in my lap and petted her. It was less than 5 minutes and she was gone. As a new chicken owner, that was pretty rough, but it just felt right to hold her and let her pass. After inspecting her, I think she had sour crop. Her crop was all squishy, even though she had not eaten or drank anything today. There was also a sour smell when the liquid was coming out.

She is the most antisocial chicken we had. She rarely comes around any other chickens. She was always hiding in the background, scared of her shadow. We definitely couldn't hold her. Some days I probably didn't see her at all. I suppose it would be easy for this to go undetected in a chicken like her, but I still feel crappy.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[tmarsh83]

 They remind me of the teen cousins at family get-togethers. Part of the flock, but keep their distance.  When they finally grow up, they'll share in all the adult activities.

I have the opposite going on. The newbies outnumber the old girls, so they putter around like the great-aunts squawking about how kids are raised these days! Lol

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
Oh that's a good place to be at. Super easy for the kids to settle in!

 

[tmarsh83]

Oh that's a good place to be at. Super easy for the kids to settle in!

It was a quiet transition. Everybody has been fine for months. The three old ladies are just usually doing their own thing away from the kids. It's funny.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I just went out to check my coops and saw my Mabel barred rock, oldest hen on the floor of the coop. She has passed away. Bless her heart, she was pretty awesome and will be missed very much. Really loved that little lady.

 

[Greenthumb83]

I just went out to check my coops and saw my Mabel barred rock, oldest hen on the floor of the coop. She has passed away. Bless her heart, she was pretty awesome and will be missed very much. Really loved that little lady.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Faraday40]

I just went out to check my coops and saw my Mabel barred rock, oldest hen on the floor of the coop. She has passed away. Bless her heart, she was pretty awesome and will be missed very much. Really loved that little lady.

I'm sure she had a good, happy life under your care. So sorry for your sadness.