Looking to raise chickens and build first coop

[rjohns39]

They will often pick on one that is unwell or injured. Your first one was likely a pile up, this one was probably either shipping stress or failure to thrive.

 

[robcam817]

They will often pick on one that is unwell or injured. Your first one was likely a pile up, this one was probably either shipping stress or failure to thrive.

Understood, thx. Is there an avg # per 10 that are failure to thrive? I.E. 1 out of every 10, 2 out of every 10....

 

[rjohns39]

I seem to have one or two per hatch. I don't think there are any hard and fast numbers. There are a lot of different thoughts of what causes it, but not sure anyone really knows.

 

[Leahs Coop]

Hello, and a warm welcome to Backyard Chickens! It's great to have you here with us and I hope you enjoy it here as much as we all do!

 

[robcam817]

Hello, and a warm welcome to Backyard Chickens! It's great to have you here with us and I hope you enjoy it here as much as we all do!

Much Thx!

 

[robcam817]

I seem to have one or two per hatch. I don't think there are any hard and fast numbers. There are a lot of different thoughts of what causes it, but not sure anyone really knows.

Well I'm down 3 as of yesterday, (leaves me 12). I ordered 2 roosters and 13 hens so odds are low both roosters died. The remaining dozen are all very active, eating and drinking so hopefully we're past the shipping and failure to thrive issue.

The distress chirping is also gone, (I didn't recognize it at first but I did with one yesterday and then I noticed she wasn't doing well and knew I'd find her dead when I got back home later that evening). Now all I hear is light peeps with intermittent periods of complete silence.

At what age, (and how) will I be able to tell the roosters from the hens?

 

[rjohns39]

Well I'm down 3 as of yesterday, (leaves me 12). I ordered 2 roosters and 13 hens so odds are low both roosters died. The remaining dozen are all very active, eating and drinking so hopefully we're past the shipping and failure to thrive issue.

The distress chirping is also gone, (I didn't recognize it at first but I did with one yesterday and then I noticed she wasn't doing well and knew I'd find her dead when I got back home later that evening). Now all I hear is light peeps with intermittent periods of complete silence.

At what age, (and how) will I be able to tell the roosters from the hens?

What's their poop look like? Do you see any blood in it? Can you post a pic?

I think the breed and gender folks can do it around 8-9 weeks, takes me up to 24 and I still get it wrong sometimes. @casportpony can you take a look. 3 chicks lost in three days please make sure i'm not missing something.

 

[robcam817]

What's their poop look like? Do you see any blood in it? Can you post a pic?

I think the breed and gender folks can do it around 8-9 weeks, takes me up to 24 and I still get it wrong sometimes. @casportpony can you take a look. 3 chicks lost in three days please make sure i'm not missing something.

No blood and their poop is firming up, (looks kinds like a super tiny dog poop).

 

[rjohns39]

That's good.

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. Sad to say chicks/chickens can be quite ruthless and sometimes even resort to cannabalism