Ivory the Rooster: Day 665 *updates*

[PunkinPeep]

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I understand that they are indeed flock creatures, but when she hatched it was a test hatch and there were 3 eggs, 2 didn't make it and so she hatched alone. She has been getting lots of attention (right when I get back from school I take her out and let her run around in my bedroom

) because I don't want to be too lonely because she has no brooder mates. At the time, the feed store didn't have any chicks available, and when they finally did a few weeks ago, I thought that she wouldn't mix well with day old chicks now that she was older.
I also understand that she is not a "solo toy". I try to give her as much attention as possible, and if I could, I would give her as many friends as she wanted right now. But as I said, when she hatched alone, I wanted to get her a couple friends to make up for the two that didn't make it, but they weren't available at the feed store. I thought about looking around for some in any local ads, but we've raised "only-child" chicks before and they turned out fine, and we made sure to give them plenty of attention.

As far behind as she is, i would go ahead and get a couple of day olds if they're available. They'll catch up to her in no time.

 

[77horses]

Quote:
I understand that they are indeed flock creatures, but when she hatched it was a test hatch and there were 3 eggs, 2 didn't make it and so she hatched alone. She has been getting lots of attention (right when I get back from school I take her out and let her run around in my bedroom

) because I don't want to be too lonely because she has no brooder mates. At the time, the feed store didn't have any chicks available, and when they finally did a few weeks ago, I thought that she wouldn't mix well with day old chicks now that she was older.
I also understand that she is not a "solo toy". I try to give her as much attention as possible, and if I could, I would give her as many friends as she wanted right now. But as I said, when she hatched alone, I wanted to get her a couple friends to make up for the two that didn't make it, but they weren't available at the feed store. I thought about looking around for some in any local ads, but we've raised "only-child" chicks before and they turned out fine, and we made sure to give them plenty of attention.

As far behind as she is, i would go ahead and get a couple of day olds if they're available. They'll catch up to her in no time.

Maybe I will at the feed store. But I think that I need to fill out an order form first (like a month in advance) to reserve a few. I don't think it's one of those drop-in-and-buy things. You need to reserve beforehand and then they will let you know when your chicks have arrived.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
As far behind as she is, i would go ahead and get a couple of day olds if they're available. They'll catch up to her in no time.

Maybe I will at the feed store. But I think that I need to fill out an order form first (like a month in advance) to reserve a few. I don't think it's one of those drop-in-and-buy things. You need to reserve beforehand and then they will let you know when your chicks have arrived.

I bet they order extras. Maybe if you explain the situation they would be willing to sell you one or two.

 

[CrazyCatNChickenLady]

She seems small enough that maybe you could get her some friends still??! depends on how active she is and maybe she wont trample them?! I guess it depends on how fast she begins to grow too! maybe get some babies and let them grow up a little before putting them in with her?

I'm not positive though, maybe see what other's think?(!!!)

Or a mirror?!! so she at least know what 'another' chicken is!!

Also I was wondering if your decreasing the brooder temp each week? I beleive its -5 degrees each week starting at 99 degrees at hatch.(but maybe since she's so little and doesn't have many feathers decrease slowly.)

ETA: Oops

I was typing(and getting side tracked!!) while you all were posting away!!

 

[77horses]

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She does have a big mirror in her brooder box.


I just cooked a plain egg and fed some of the cooked yolk to her in small bits. She seemed REALLY eager to eat it all! Of course, I couldn't let her finish it all, because her crop got huge in no time and I didn't want to over-feed her. Also I ground up some layer pellets and gave that to her, mixed in with the corn. That should give her a bit more protein, right?

Right now she's sitting under her light, and is about to take a nap. She must feel much better with a full crop of nutritious cooked egg.

 

[77horses]

Quote:
Maybe I will at the feed store. But I think that I need to fill out an order form first (like a month in advance) to reserve a few. I don't think it's one of those drop-in-and-buy things. You need to reserve beforehand and then they will let you know when your chicks have arrived.

I bet they order extras. Maybe if you explain the situation they would be willing to sell you one or two.

I will ask them if they have extras, and if so, how much they would ask for a couple of them. I just don't want any roosters. I'm pretty sure Ivory is a pullet, by the way she acts and the size of her tiny, non-reddish comb so far...but who knows? Now that I see how underdeveloped she is, she could just look like a hen right now. I hope not. I would hate to have to sell her.

P.S. Ivory looks much more content now. She is now sleeping on her little sock bed under he light.

So cute! I'm so glad I decided to ask you guys about her smallness at her age...I thought she was just a little behind and that's sometimes normal, but now when I look at your chicken pictures, I've realized that she is WAAAY more behind than I thought. Poor baby!

 

[77horses]

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Even Cochins don't develop that slow. Something about its beak looks funny to me. Make sure it is getting protein from chick starter.

I agree. Her beak has looked funny for a while. It also is starting to be a tiny tiny bit crooked..just barely noticeable. The bottom part of the beak isn't perfectly in line with the top part. It's not interfering with anything, such as eating, drinking, etc. I asked about it in a different thread but no one responded.

What do you mean when you think something looks wrong with her beak?

 

[Katy]

If the top and bottom don't match up he may be developing a cross beak.

 

[77horses]

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That's what I feared. But it's really not even noticeable. I just noticed it was slightly out of line, but barely at all. But if she does start to develop a cross beak, what can I do to fix/prevent it in case it gets serious?

 

[Katy]

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That's what I feared. But it's really not even noticeable. I just noticed it was slightly out of line, but barely at all. But if she does start to develop a cross beak, what can I do to fix/prevent it in case it gets serious?

There's nothing you can do to fix it and there's nothing you can do to prevent it. If it gets severe enough it won't be able to eat on it's own and the only alternative is to cull it or hand feed it.