We got 4 baby "assorted feather leg" babies on Friday and are getting 4 more Plymouth Rocks tomorrow.
Petunia, the fluffiest, cutest and sweetest chick (don't tell the other girls!!) is limping today. She seems to be the gentlest one of the bunch, but perhaps she is actually sick...?
I gave her a drop of PolyViSol (without iron) - read about that on another thread. She's sitting alot - and sort of using her same side wing to hold herself up - does that make sense? She was standing on one foot, and is using that bad foot to scratch her face - she stretches it now and again, then settles back down.
I also read about Vitamin E, but wasn't sure if I give her that too - and how much/how often.
I started to read about culling on another thread. I certainly don't want anything to suffer and have had to put down two beloved old kitties - but the thought of culling one of these tiny chicks myself makes me feel a bit queasy. I honestly don't know if I could do it. I grew up with laying hens and my dad culled the extra roosters we had - but my mom stayed in the house with us kids and turned the music up really loud! Is my reaction a normal reaction? Logically, I know it's one of those fact-of-life, evil-necessities, but I can't even watch violent things on TV - I have a very vivid imagination and am sort of a wimp about things like that. Has anyone even been able to overcome something like this?
So - back to this baby chick - is there anything else I can do for her? She seems to be eating, and drinking. Should she be away from the others?
The kids are super attached to them already. Me, I'm just hoping that they all make it and die of old age or natural causes. I know that's TOTALLY Pollyana-ish of me!!
Thanks again - this is a great site and we are learning tons.
Kara
(this picture is from Friday. she's the one on the right - we think she looks like a baby penguin!)
Petunia, the fluffiest, cutest and sweetest chick (don't tell the other girls!!) is limping today. She seems to be the gentlest one of the bunch, but perhaps she is actually sick...?
I gave her a drop of PolyViSol (without iron) - read about that on another thread. She's sitting alot - and sort of using her same side wing to hold herself up - does that make sense? She was standing on one foot, and is using that bad foot to scratch her face - she stretches it now and again, then settles back down.
I also read about Vitamin E, but wasn't sure if I give her that too - and how much/how often.
I started to read about culling on another thread. I certainly don't want anything to suffer and have had to put down two beloved old kitties - but the thought of culling one of these tiny chicks myself makes me feel a bit queasy. I honestly don't know if I could do it. I grew up with laying hens and my dad culled the extra roosters we had - but my mom stayed in the house with us kids and turned the music up really loud! Is my reaction a normal reaction? Logically, I know it's one of those fact-of-life, evil-necessities, but I can't even watch violent things on TV - I have a very vivid imagination and am sort of a wimp about things like that. Has anyone even been able to overcome something like this?
So - back to this baby chick - is there anything else I can do for her? She seems to be eating, and drinking. Should she be away from the others?
The kids are super attached to them already. Me, I'm just hoping that they all make it and die of old age or natural causes. I know that's TOTALLY Pollyana-ish of me!!
Thanks again - this is a great site and we are learning tons.
Kara
(this picture is from Friday. she's the one on the right - we think she looks like a baby penguin!)
