Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[fluffycrow]

I have been contending with a viral infection for this past week plus (I suspect covid but we don't test for it anymore it seems) and have perforce had to leave my novice young broody Fez to get on with it without assistance.

On the day I was going downhill fast she seemed to have half-abandoned a chick that had been struggling to keep up the previous 2 days, and I realized that I was not going to be able to intervene much longer, so I did what I thought was the decent thing in the circumstances: I brought it in to a calm, quiet and warm place and simultaneously freed Fez from dividing her energies between teaching the curious and busy majority and responding and returning to the plaintiff cheeps of the one. It passed later that day. RIP Gilfach, probably one of her own, and the one of whom I captured the tenderest moment a few days prior.
View attachment 3888615
Now my energy levels are recovering, I find that Cadoc, the chestnut brown one, is limping; I have no idea what happened or when during the week, but it doesn't want to put weight on the left leg. S/he is keeping up, by bunny hopping if speed is needed, but it looks significantly smaller and less well developed than its similar-size-egg siblings, which are the nearer 2 of the other 3 in this photo (2 of the 6 eggs were about 20% larger than the other 4, so those 2 chicks are naturally bigger too; one of those is the chick at the back (Sully), and one (Erddig) is off-camera).
View attachment 3888617
Fez has not given up on it, at least not yet. For a novice young broody who's essentially had to go it alone after the first week, I think she's done brilliantly. Hopefully I'll be able to support her rather better henceforth.

Sorry to hear about the viral infection you've been going through (whether covid or otherwise), Perris . Glad you're feeling better

Sorry to hear the loss of Gilfach, but you were doing the kindest thing you could, by giving him/her a safe and calm place to pass

 

[Perris]

thanks fluffy

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Funny enough, I caught my silkie with a ceramic egg under each wing this morning! I wish I had my phone with at the time to get a picture.

That would have been a perfect picture.

 

[BDutch]

I suspect covid but we don't test for it anymore it seems

Good to hear you are recovering. Here the gov. recommends self-test. You can buy them at the pharmacies and other shops that sell medicines/pain killers.

Cadoc, the chestnut brown one, is limping; I have no idea what happened or when during the week, but it doesn't want to put weight on the left leg. S/he is keeping up, by bunny hopping if speed is needed, but it looks significantly smaller and less well developed than its similar-size-egg siblings

Sorry for the lost chick.

My next street neighbour had an accident with a 2.5 week chick. It had a small wound on its legs, barely moved for a day and limped a day later. The neighbour made a cage inside the house. She gave water with electrolytes and wet chick food. It was warm enough during the day. In the evening she brought a second chick in and added small heating pad for the night). She did great and recovered fast. After 3 days/2 nights she brought the chicks back outside to their siblings and their mamma. The neighbour said: “ The mamma accepted the chicks right away and seemed pleased. “

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good afternoon one and all!

Tea is ready.

Temperature is in the 90s sunny.

Have a great day!

 

[Shadrach]

I have been contending with a viral infection for this past week plus (I suspect covid but we don't test for it anymore it seems) and have perforce had to leave my novice young broody Fez to get on with it without assistance.

On the day I was going downhill fast she seemed to have half-abandoned a chick that had been struggling to keep up the previous 2 days, and I realized that I was not going to be able to intervene much longer, so I did what I thought was the decent thing in the circumstances: I brought it in to a calm, quiet and warm place and simultaneously freed Fez from dividing her energies between teaching the curious and busy majority and responding and returning to the plaintiff cheeps of the one. It passed later that day. RIP Gilfach, probably one of her own, and the one of whom I captured the tenderest moment a few days prior.
View attachment 3888615
Now my energy levels are recovering, I find that Cadoc, the chestnut brown one, is limping; I have no idea what happened or when during the week, but it doesn't want to put weight on the left leg. S/he is keeping up, by bunny hopping if speed is needed, but it looks significantly smaller and less well developed than its similar-size-egg siblings, which are the nearer 2 of the other 3 in this photo (2 of the 6 eggs were about 20% larger than the other 4, so those 2 chicks are naturally bigger too; one of those is the chick at the back (Sully), and one (Erddig) is off-camera).
View attachment 3888617
Fez has not given up on it, at least not yet. For a novice young broody who's essentially had to go it alone after the first week, I think she's done brilliantly. Hopefully I'll be able to support her rather better henceforth.

Nasty bug s that Covid. I hope you recover fully and quickly.
Shame about the chick.

 

[Shadrach]

From mid day to 10pm. It wasn't supposed to rain much but it poured this evening. Busy clearing up after the volunteers. This isn't a complaint, they did overall a good job but ran out of time.
Two went in on their own tonight and two settled on the extension roost bar.
I think I may put a divider on one of the roost bars hoping that will give the chicks some security from Mow who uses the same bar but shuffles down it to peck at the chicks. There is something about movement below them when it's dark that makes pecking at whatever it is almost an involuntary reaction. If I put my hand in underneath the hens when they are roosting they will peck at it.

I'm very tired and while I read what threads I can I do not have the energy to comment much.

 

[fuzzi]

From mid day to 10pm. It wasn't supposed to rain much but it poured this evening. Busy clearing up after the volunteers. This isn't a complaint, they did overall a good job but ran out of time.
Two went in on their own tonight and two settled on the extension roost bar.
I think I may put a divider on one of the roost bars hoping that will give the chicks some security from Mow who uses the same bar but shuffles down it to peck at the chicks. There is something about movement below them when it's dark that makes pecking at whatever it is almost an involuntary reaction. If I put my hand in underneath the hens when they are roosting they will peck at it.
View attachment 3889225
I'm very tired and while I read what threads I can I do not have the energy to comment much.

My hens peck at the chicks while roosting.

Martha caught in the act!

 

[Perris]

thanks BDutch and Shadrach. Thanks also for the relevant chick anecdote BDutch, but I think Fez is a better mum for Cadoc than I could be even if fully fit, which I'm a long way off as yet, so I'll let her carry on doing what she thinks best. The chick seems to be keeping up OK, and looks healthy bar the obvious leg injury; I'm hoping it's the sort of soft tissue damage that will heal on its own, rather than the sort that won't, and that it's not in a lot of pain of course; fingers crossed for the little fighter

It managed a few beakfuls of some cooked mixed veg before the adults bowled in and Fez sensibly steered them all into the safety of the spruce. Being a chick in a mixed age flock of 20-30 does involve some rough and tumble, mostly without ill consequence, but I suspect that's what happened to poor Cadoc. Let's hope the road to recovery is short and complete. Young animals do have remarkable powers of recovery and regeneration of damaged tissue.

 

[Perris]

In other news, Polka has gone broody , some of the flock are moulting, some of the garden plants think it's autumn and are colouring up while the tomatoes have barely got 2 trusses out and only single tiny fruits starting to set. I appreciate it's tough for those with incessant heat or incessant rain (is anybody having normal weather this year?), we could really do with some summer warmth here now.