INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Greenthumb83]

Something is wrong with one of our EE pullets.

When I let everyone out this morning, she was laying under the nest boxes. I just though she might be trying to lay her first egg, so I let her be. I went back out a few hours later, anxious to see what color it was, but there was no egg and I couldn't find her. I had a huge bowl of veggies scraps and she never came out to eat with everyone else. I looked under the coop and finally found her in a corner beneath the stairs. She was not looking well at all. I decided I needed to get her out somehow, so I proceeded to crawl under the coop (omg eww) and try to reach her. Once most of my body was under there, I was feeling pretty claustrophobic, so my oldest son handed me the poo shovel, so I could kind of scoop her towards me. It did not work.

She was able to stand and slowly walk to the BACK of the coop, plop herself down and go back to sleep. (Meanwhile my toddler is running amuck btw.) I inched my way back a little farther, but I just could not do it. I wasn't sure if I could get myself back out, let alone with a chicken under my arm. This was 3 hours ago. I just checked on her and she still has not moved. She will barely lift her behind to go to poop (runny white). She just wants to sleep. I know I need to get her out of there and in the house. DH is coming home to help me. I just needed to vent. It stinks. And I have no idea what could be wrong with her. Everyone else is fine.

 

[Lengerich Farms]

Set the chicks up like this.

Here's a good one of Mildred where you can see her plumage better.

 

[Lengerich Farms]

@Lengerich Farms

Mildred is very pretty.  Both she & Hilda do not have very red combs.  My hens look more pink combed than red when they are not laying.  Since Hilda is missing some tail feathers, perhaps she's molting.

Here's a link to get you started.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-see-but-don-t-touch-method

There's also some Youtube videos about new chick introductions.  I try to give a lot of face time as they're growing up to make it easier.  I free range my adult birds for most of the day & have multiple feeders/waterers around the yard.  But if I kept them enclosed in a run 24/7, then my approach may be different. 

As with everything chicken-related, there's more than one way to do things.  Basically, you have to figure out what works for you in your situation.

Thank you! I take pride in my girls haha. I'll keep an eye on them both and see what happens. I'll keep everyone posted

 

[Faraday40]

Set the chicks up like this.

That's pretty much what my chicks' cage looks like too. Make sure to put a waterer/feeder & cover for partial shade. (Cover also prevents misc. hen poop from falling on to your chicks.) I just use an empty feed bag as a tarp. Zip ties or a small rock prevent blowing away. My run is highly predator proof, so I only need to worry about protecting them from the hens.

Here are a few pics.

I also tried a plastic tub with small vent holes along the sides & an entrance only large enough for the chicks (& perhaps my bantam). They used this for sleeping / a huddle house. I preferred the cage with an open door, but at this time, the nights were in the 60s'F & I didn't want to set up heat for my 5-6 wk olds. Giving them a safe place to sleep with soft bedding, kept my nest boxes clean.



During the day (weather permitting) they got grass time.
(BTW- The chickens are sunbathing - not dead. Some hens are wearing saddles b/c they were a roo's favorite.)

 

[Lengerich Farms]

Okay, so instead of next to the pen, I should put the chicks IN the pen inside their own?
And then after their 4-6 weeks, do the hole in the bucket method right?

(Sorry, first timer, want to do it right the first time! Lol)

 

[Greenthumb83]

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.

 

[iamfivewire]

:- (

 

[LocosHuevos]

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

 

[ellymayRans]

Something is wrong with one of our EE pullets. When I let everyone out this morning, she was laying under the nest boxes. I just though she might be trying to lay her first egg, so I let her be. I went back out a few hours later, anxious to see what color it was, but there was no egg and I couldn't find her. I had a huge bowl of veggies scraps and she never came out to eat with everyone else. I looked under the coop and finally found her in a corner beneath the stairs. She was not looking well at all. I decided I needed to get her out somehow, so I proceeded to crawl under the coop (omg eww) and try to reach her. Once most of my body was under there, I was feeling pretty claustrophobic, so my oldest son handed me the poo shovel, so I could kind of scoop her towards me. It did not work. She was able to stand and slowly walk to the BACK of the coop, plop herself down and go back to sleep. (Meanwhile my toddler is running amuck btw.) I inched my way back a little farther, but I just could not do it. I wasn't sure if I could get myself back out, let alone with a chicken under my arm. This was 3 hours ago. I just checked on her and she still has not moved. She will barely lift her behind to go to poop (runny white). She just wants to sleep. I know I need to get her out of there and in the house. DH is coming home to help me. I just needed to vent. It stinks. And I have no idea what could be wrong with her. Everyone else is fine.

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.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

@jchny2000
Buckeyes...... Did your daughter have a couple of pullets she could spare for you? Or...maybe we need a few more chicks next year.

Right now I think I've 3 girls (one is still "iffy" but I'm pretty sure). I'll keep one of the boys; 2 will process unless someone wants them for a flock roo. The boys are all still just friendly and "child-like" even at this age (is it 21 weeks?)


If it works out for keeping the boy I suppose I could have some hatching eggs for next spring too....

May 5th was their birth date, will have to go back and count. DD had mostly boys also. From what Bill had said, he won't be hatching next year. Once their move is done, and he is set up again, he will resume from what I understood. I will get on his list though, mine are just too sweet! I have several RIR production hens (around 25), so I am going to use 2 roosters over them, as well as my heritage RIR boy and split into 2 pens. They are just the best layers, and no prolapse issues like comets have. I also have a spare dark cornish fella I may have to play with too!
Not this year tho, I am only hatching quail now. Will see how things are going in the spring.