Runt Chick?

[EggSighted4Life]

Alrighty, thanks! I'll probably have 'em out in their circle tomorrow then.

Another question.. I made a mistake with the wet feed. They managed to peck the lid off, with I'm assuming tremendous teamwork, and all of them got inside it and sat there as opposed to just their heads fitting through before. Now all of their little chests are covered in dried like mash? There's no actual food stuck to them, but they're looking very scruffy on their chests and have some bits of skin showing because it dried with their down clumped together. How the heck do I get this off? I know how to get poop off their little bums, but I tried the same method and it just doesn't seem to be coming off the same way, and I don't want to be too harsh on them.

At least there isn't pieces of feed stuck to them. I had that happen before and the other chicks happily pulled the clumps off along with whatever feather it was attached to. If we have chicks that really got messy... a warm bath works really well. For chicks we just do it under running water. And we gently blow dry them (after a good towel dry) because it is ALWAYS cool here.

And the main reason I would be worried about the scruffiness is because I wouldn't want them to get chilled where the down isn't covering well.

How is your runty baby doing?

 

[DesertBird]

At least there isn't pieces of feed stuck to them. I had that happen before and the other chicks happily pulled the clumps off along with whatever feather it was attached to. If we have chicks that really got messy... a warm bath works really well. For chicks we just do it under running water. And we gently blow dry them (after a good towel dry) because it is ALWAYS cool here.

And the main reason I would be worried about the scruffiness is because I wouldn't want them to get chilled where the down isn't covering well.

How is your runty baby doing?

Alright, I'll try to give them a little bath if I see that it's really bad. If some of it won't unclump, would that cause problems for their future feathers? No bare chests are showing anymore. It's not really dirty, it just doesn't seem to want to unclump - I need a tiny hairbrush. I have an old shirt in their tub that they all can huddle into like a nest if they get super cold, but so far, they seem a bit scared of it. lol

The runt seems to be doing okay! She's a little smaller and fluffier than the others still, and doesn't move around quite as much, but if I hand-feed them all or tap the outside of the brooder a bit or put my hand it, she comes running with the rest of them. I think she'll be okay, but I'll see how she does with the move to the circular pen. It's so strange because I have 3 super spunky Australorp's, 2 of them that seem a little small and aren't too spunky unless they're following the others' lead (one of them is just fluffy as heck, but the other is the little runt ) and then the 5 mystery breeds seem so cautious. The little runt is one of the ones with the worst of the food on her chest - I found her asleep in the food container. I'll try to get some pictures of her when I move them all today.

 

[Chickassan]

Oh dear, I hope im not jinxing you but every single time I've had a runt it's been a roo.

 

[DesertBird]

Oh dear, I hope im not jinxing you but every single time I've had a runt it's been a roo.

Nooo! Are roo chicks usually spunky? I'm so worried all of these Australorp's are roo's, omg, they're either small or super spunky. The brown/tan ones are just kinda middle of the road - spunky because the Australorp's are being spunky first.

 

[Chickassan]

I could lie to you and tell you baby roos aren't spunky if it makes you feel better. Maybe you just got an extra energetic bunch of babies. I'm crossing my fingers for you I know you've already got plenty of boys.

 

[DesertBird]

I could lie to you and tell you baby roos aren't spunky if it makes you feel better. Maybe you just got an extra energetic bunch of babies. I'm crossing my fingers for you I know you've already got plenty of boys.

Just my luck, if they all are - 5 more boys! Hoping they're not. But honestly, if they are, it's not a huge deal.. 2 of my RIR boys are starting to torment the pullets way more, pulling out feathers, and they even attacked me a bit! So, if I can get a docile Australorp roo or two it'll be okay. Hopefully no more than that. lol I swatted them on the behind and chased 'em around a bit like I saw on another thread, and then put them in a currently not being used grow-out pen together; the one my grandpa dubbed "Pretty Boy" attacked the one dubbed "Long Tail" (very creative we're trying to tell them apart without getting attached) and almost killed him the second I went inside from the coop. Don't think I've ran that fast in my life! Put Long Tail back with the others and he stopped tormenting the hens, and put Pretty Boy back with 'em when they were all asleep. I'm hoping they calm down in the next 2-3 months, since they're only 4 months.. I doubt it, though. Looks like in 3-4 months someone might have some rooster stew if they don't behave.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Just my luck, if they all are - 5 more boys! Hoping they're not. But honestly, if they are, it's not a huge deal.. 2 of my RIR boys are starting to torment the pullets way more, pulling out feathers, and they even attacked me a bit! So, if I can get a docile Australorp roo or two it'll be okay. Hopefully no more than that. lol I swatted them on the behind and chased 'em around a bit like I saw on another thread, and then put them in a currently not being used grow-out pen together; the one my grandpa dubbed "Pretty Boy" attacked the one dubbed "Long Tail" (very creative we're trying to tell them apart without getting attached) and almost killed him the second I went inside from the coop. Don't think I've ran that fast in my life! Put Long Tail back with the others and he stopped tormenting the hens, and put Pretty Boy back with 'em when they were all asleep. I'm hoping they calm down in the next 2-3 months, since they're only 4 months.. I doubt it, though. Looks like in 3-4 months someone might have some rooster stew if they don't behave.

Your rooster woes are just beginning, it sounds like. Best to cull now before they are harder to process with all kind of connective tissue.

Hormones get WORSE not better over the next 2-3 months from that point.

Why not keep them in the grow out pen until they learn some manners or make it to camp?

It's the ones who have ZERO tail growth in comparison to the others that are always boys for me. I wouldn't worry too much about spunkiness just yet... there are so many variables and each bird is an individual. And my Australorp pullet had me thinkin' roo for the longest time. Their red waddles are quite striking against their black plumage.

Post pics of your mystery breed? How do you know it wasn't as labeled?

 

[DesertBird]

Your rooster woes are just beginning, it sounds like. Best to cull now before they are harder to process with all kind of connective tissue.

Hormones get WORSE not better over the next 2-3 months from that point.

Why not keep them in the grow out pen until they learn some manners or make it to camp?

It's the ones who have ZERO tail growth in comparison to the others that are always boys for me. I wouldn't worry too much about spunkiness just yet... there are so many variables and each bird is an individual. And my Australorp pullet had me thinkin' roo for the longest time. Their red waddles are quite striking against their black plumage.

Post pics of your mystery breed? How do you know it wasn't as labeled?

I'm so attached to them! Hoping they'll get better, but it's unlikely - and I can't keep 'em in the grow-out pen because the little chicks are going in there soon, sadly. The roosters fight with each other, too, when they're in there. My mystery breeds have tail and wing feathers already - no way they can be 1 week. They were labelled, just incorrectly - said they were Sicilian Buttercups, but they aren't. I'll go take some pictures and post them in a reply, one sec.

 

[DesertBird]

Sorry, I totally forgot! Here's the pictures.

 

[peeper89]

cute baby