INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[flyladyrocks]

OK so here's our mystery blue orp from Oopsie.
Note: This blue chick came from a lav orp rooster x Oopsie / our cream colored orp that was supposed to be a mauve. Since a blue hatched, we know that our Oopsie is a mauve orp carrying some white genes).

It's now 5.5 weeks.
Sometimes I think, "Darn another cockerel!"
Other times I think, " She's such a pretty girl!"

Those wattles are way too pink for my liking, but the comb is so tiny. Mine always have huge headgear by 4-5 weeks, and this chick has barely a bump. I have no idea its gender.

I really hope I don't have to wait until it lays an egg or crows!

Any guesses?

 

[flyladyrocks]

 

[jonesfamily6]

@Faraday40 SHE (hoping for ya!) is absolutely gorgeous regardless if she ends up providing eggs or too much noise ;-)

 

[jonesfamily6]

@Delawaremommy I. Learnt don't take great pictures but here are the mystery chicks! I have a range in size but I think they are growing fine. I added three cuckoo Marans that are tiny that will be a good guage for me going forward. The other bantams I have seen in tsc are a lot smaller than these at the start so I'm not sure what I think!

I really hope they are both pullets.

 

[Faraday40]

Went out to the garage tonight & saw this:
(How does Cookie keep track of all of them?)

 

[jonesfamily6]

"Went out to the garage tonight & saw this:
(How does Cookie keep track of all of them?)"

I hope to experience this next year! It's pretty AMAZING!!!

 

[Faraday40]

"Went out to the garage tonight & saw this:
(How does Cookie keep track of all of them?)"

I hope to experience this next year! It's pretty AMAZING!!!

From what I've learned broodiness an individual hen thing. Having a broody breed means your chances are higher to see this frequently. However, I have a Sebright that does an awesome job even though most books say they "seldom go broody" and an EE mutt that goes broody every June like clockwork .., & lays like a champ the rest of the year. My LF orps are supposed to go broody, but none have tried. Oopsie thought about it for a couple weeks but never fully committed.

 

[ellymayRans]

I'm going to research but anyone have good advice how to care for my injured Drake?

I have no idea how or when but guessing not but a day at most.
I noticed blood on his bill and then noticed it on his underside.

His penis isn't retracting and either he or another bird has caused it to bleed.

 

[hbrown322]

I have two hens, one went broody about two weeks ago. I put her in a wire dog crate to break the broodiness. It took about a week. Now when I try to reintroduce her back into the coop she fights with the other hen. I know they just need to be reintegrated, but my question is do I let them fight it out a bit to reestablish their pecking order? At what point to I step in? I don't want the other hen to get injured and have to keep them separated even longer. Right now I have the wired dog crate sitting right next to the run so they can see & hear each other all day, then I bring her in at night as I think a raccoon could do some damage through the dog cage. Once a day, before or after work depending on my schedule, I let them out so they can forage & see how they interact. The one will eventually rush up to her & attack her. These two grew up together and have always gotten along until now.

 

[Faraday40]

I have two hens, one went broody about two weeks ago. I put her in a wire dog crate to break the broodiness. It took about a week. Now when I try to reintroduce her back into the coop she fights with the other hen. I know they just need to be reintegrated, but my question is do I let them fight it out a bit to reestablish their pecking order? At what point to I step in? I don't want the other hen to get injured and have to keep them separated even longer. Right now I have the wired dog crate sitting right next to the run so they can see & hear each other all day, then I bring her in at night as I think a raccoon could do some damage through the dog cage. Once a day, before or after work depending on my schedule, I let them out so they can forage & see how they interact. The one will eventually rush up to her & attack her. These two grew up together and have always gotten along until now.

I think you have a good plan with the "look but don't peck" approach. Your attempted broody may be a little more hormonal than usual, and she won't want to give up her place in the pecking order..
You may be surprised & notice that after spending the night together, it's much better tomorrow. (You may want to wake up a little early tomorrow to check on them just in case.)

You do have to allow some pecking order conflicts to be resolved on their own, but I jump in if there's any blood. A nick on the comb can bleed & intensify pecking. If that happens, just treat it & hide the red with something like blu-kote. Make sure she's safe inside a crate for the remainder of the day or until the scab is set. I'm also talking about a small scrape - nothing major like a wound that may require vet care. Having an extra feeder area helps a lot. I've had roos scratch up each other's combs, but never hens. If you have a roo, he'll make sure the hen-fight doesn't go long.