Ribh's D'Coopage

[CrazyChookChookLady]

If I remember right they were wild for awhile, weren't they?


You are correct!!

I feel reasonably safe with them.out and about. I do plan on fixing the fence this weekend. Violet is able to find any little hole and escape.

 

[micstrachan]

View attachment 2497417
I got the most adorable shot of all the small fluffy butts this afternoon!
They won't roost @ night but during the day they roost on anything that's available!

View attachment 2497418​

Oh goodness. Soooo adorable!

 

[micstrachan]

Patricia's bum is bright red.

View attachment 2497414
I'm assuming that's the Uropygial gland. Everything round there is red & infected as well.
I am not happy. My girls are stressing me out just now.
I have slathered her in Betadine & started her on Medh's antibiotics ~ which are a broad spectrum antibiotic.​

View attachment 2497415

The poor girl is sort of moulting just now too.

I'm hoping this is not another vet trip ~ which it will be if things don't improve drastically by next week.​

Oh, dear. That looks quite sore.

 

[Ribh]

Oh, dear. That looks quite sore.

I think it must have been. She seems more comfortable today & she is being brilliant about taking medication! She's one of my oldest girls too so one of my more stable flock members. She seems to know I'm trying to help & is co~operating beautifully.

 

[Ribh]

@Ribh was skittish enough with 6 week olds, chicks might be asking too much!

I have to admit I am waaay more comfortable now everyone's a little bigger.

 

[micstrachan]

I think it must have been. She seems more comfortable today & she is being brilliant about taking medication! She's one of my oldest girls too so one of my more stable flock members. She seems to know I'm trying to help & is co~operating beautifully.

I am so glad to hear that. It is amazing to me when they really seem to understand we are helping. I'm not sure why it amazes me; it makes sense. But I still enjoy the surprise!

 

[Ribh]

That does sound like a lot of work, and time-consuming.
I hope all your girls are restored to excellent health.
chickens are high maintenance for sure.

They're good. I'm just treating for coccidiosis as it's been so wet all summer. I did a full on worming recently too & I have Patricia on antibiotics for an infection. @Shadrach had suggested the wormer I was using wasn't working as it should so I have had words with my vet & we are hitting the flock hard hoping to get a number of niggly little things under control. I'm also putting a supplement in my broody's feed.... Her sister is scoffing the leftovers.

 

[Ribh]

But look how well she did - I have every confidence.

Thank you! I'm not sure I do.

 

[Ribh]

I was off the island early this morning on babysitting duties but I have now medicated more than 1/2 my flock for coccidiosis. Just the Littlest still to go. Nearly everyone has been really good about it. Even Morrigu, once I caught her, was co~operative. It's always a bit dodgy when I have to do stuff like this as I deliberately don't handle my girls all that much but all my older girls are reasonably friendly & we have a good relationship so they don't really fight me once I've grabbed them.

The Littlies came & foraged round my feet yesterday. That's a first & how I like my relationship with my chickens. I don't really want them in my lap but I love to have them come & hang out with me & have a bit of a chat!

 

[Ribh]

@BY Bob, @CrazyChookChookLady, @micstrachan ~ or anyone else with some experience of integrating younger pullets...

I am wanting to move my Littlies in with my bigger girls so thoughts & opinions on when would be the optimum time to do this. Do you think they are big enough now or should I wait a bit longer? And I still have them on chick starter. When do you think I should change them over to layer mash? The breeder said when they started laying but my POLs were already on Layer mash when I got them. I have no experience & am really clueless ~ plus worried about doing the wrong thing.