South Carolina

[Moonchild]

I thought I would update on these crosses I told about a while back as they just started laying, mother a petite 2 or 3 lb LF leghorn/OEGB cross (I know, poor OEGB hen) and the father a huge 9 lb SL Wyandotte.


father


mother

The crosses are medium-sized, maybe 4 lbs. The rooster is lean and has a gamey stance like his mother. The three hens are more heavy bodied. They lay small eggs, slightly bigger than silkie eggs. Two have very pretty lightly laced black and white plumage, one is all black with a little bit of black lacing on her neck. She's the wildest of the bunch. All have their father's rose comb. The rooster has ghost barring on his tail. The roo and one of the pullets have yellow legs like their father, on of the white pullets has white spotted legs like her mother, and the black pullet has grayish green legs which came from who knows where. Funny how genetics work

This is a scary story...BUT it has a beautiful ending.!!! Cute Kids.

 

[RockerHen]

This is a scary story...BUT it has a beautiful ending.!!! Cute Kids.

I stopped raising OEGB and I only keep a few hens for broodies and got rid of the roosters...they've found ways around having infertile eggs. Usually, by the time I discover their nests, they're full of eggs fertilized by my LF roosters! The bantams free range at all times, so they have to fly into the LF pens to mate, then fly out to lay their eggs! These little teeny hens are worse than dogs in heat. And they're all around 4 years old. They should know better

 

[RockerHen]

Adorable...no...actually struggling for words to describe your wonderful world you get to live within! Always beautiful babies and just lots going on there! Love all the pics you share with us!!!!

Thank you. I feel very blessed to live with and experience the joy of raising all of these animals

 

[Sunshinejammer]

URGENT PLEASE HELP!!! We have had a terribly devastating turn of events here today. Even though I've told them NEVER to play in the coop, my little boys (age 8 and 6) went in the coop and left the door between the Orpington & Silkies open. All of my birds are about about 3-4 months old. My little black Silkie Rooster "Meany" (The head of his lil young flock) is now hanging on to life by a thread. He's got a large bare/bloody patch where they have plucked his feathers out on the back of his head. He was just lying in the pine chips, he looked dead when I found him, it was all so traumatic, I believe one of the Orpingtons (BIG & HEAVY Roo) may have even been standing on him I can't recall. I don't know what to do. I don't believe his neck is broken (a miracle looking at his condition). He is breathing very shallow & moving a little. He may have internal injuries? What should I do now? I have a quarantine carrier I can put him in. Right now he is just being held by my oldest son (12) as the Silkies are his flock. Should I clean the wound up now while he's out of it, hoping by the time he might gain his strength back that it won't be infected or will this just stress him out further & cause him to die? Is there any hope for him? Should I just put him out of his misery?

He's my favorite rooster. He's not mean. He was named that b/c as a small chick he was a bit of a bully to the others. He grew out of that, but was definitely the leader of his flock & was defending his family in this situation. All the other silkie roos (3 others in the young flock) are just fine. We're just heartbroken for our brave lil guy.

This is our first experience with chickens. Please, any advice would be appreciated. It goes without saying the little boys have learned a very hard lesson today & will be dealt with accordingly.

 

[Naturemoma]

I have no advice, as I am new to this chicken thing too,but I am so sorry for your situation and your little boys.. I hope that your roo recovers and your little boys learn a valuable lesson. I am sure the situation in its self has been an eye opener for them. Best of luck!

 

[RedBugPoultry]

URGENT PLEASE HELP!!! We have had a terribly devastating turn of events here today. Even though I've told them NEVER to play in the coop, my little boys (age 8 and 6) went in the coop and left the door between the Orpington & Silkies open. All of my birds are about about 3-4 months old. My little black Silkie Rooster "Meany" (The head of his lil young flock) is now hanging on to life by a thread. He's got a large bare/bloody patch where they have plucked his feathers out on the back of his head. He was just lying in the pine chips, he looked dead when I found him, it was all so traumatic, I believe one of the Orpingtons (BIG & HEAVY Roo) may have even been standing on him I can't recall. I don't know what to do. I don't believe his neck is broken (a miracle looking at his condition). He is breathing very shallow & moving a little. He may have internal injuries? What should I do now? I have a quarantine carrier I can put him in. Right now he is just being held by my oldest son (12) as the Silkies are his flock. Should I clean the wound up now while he's out of it, hoping by the time he might gain his strength back that it won't be infected or will this just stress him out further & cause him to die? Is there any hope for him? Should I just put him out of his misery?

He's my favorite rooster. He's not mean. He was named that b/c as a small chick he was a bit of a bully to the others. He grew out of that, but was definitely the leader of his flock & was defending his family in this situation. All the other silkie roos (3 others in the young flock) are just fine. We're just heartbroken for our brave lil guy.

This is our first experience with chickens. Please, any advice would be appreciated. It goes without saying the little boys have learned a very hard lesson today & will be dealt with accordingly.

I sent you a PM if you are still in need for help.....

 

[RedBugPoultry]

Chickens are very resilient as far as wounds go but like people if they go into shock you have to treat for that first. In this case a warm, quiet place for them to sleep for a while is the best thing a person can do in this situation. I have a plastic dog crate/kennel with a light inside that I put them in under the light to warm them up and let them be alone when these things happen. I use only a 40 watt bulb but they just need enough warmth to get their body back up since in shock the body shuts down. Wounds look bad but I have had chicks and chickens live after being pecked to the skull. They can heal....hope some of this helps.

Please let us know how he does....

 

[Sunshinejammer]

Chickens are very resilient as far as wounds go but like people if they go into shock you have to treat for that first. In this case a warm, quiet place for them to sleep for a while is the best thing a person can do in this situation. I have a plastic dog crate/kennel with a light inside that I put them in under the light to warm them up and let them be alone when these things happen. I use only a 40 watt bulb but they just need enough warmth to get their body back up since in shock the body shuts down. Wounds look bad but I have had chicks and chickens live after being pecked to the skull. They can heal....hope some of this helps.

Please let us know how he does....

He is resting in a small pet carrier in the bathroom with the heater set on 76. We held him for the last few hours and have fed him drops of electrolyte water with a syringe. He hasn't really moved other than to accept the water and stretch his legs slightly. I will keep you posted and post pictures once we regroup & recoup. Really hope I can save him. Thank you all so much for your concern & advice!!! I don't know what I'd do without my chicken community in times like these!!

My chicken peeps are the BEST!!!

 

[KPenley]

He is resting in a small pet carrier in the bathroom with the heater set on 76. We held him for the last few hours and have fed him drops of electrolyte water with a syringe. He hasn't really moved other than to accept the water and stretch his legs slightly. I will keep you posted and post pictures once we regroup & recoup. Really hope I can save him. Thank you all so much for your concern & advice!!! I don't know what I'd do without my chicken community in times like these!!

My chicken peeps are the BEST!!!

Do you have any Nustock or Neosporin to put on the wound? If you haven't already, I would gently clean the wound and treat it to avoid infection. Sounds like you're doing well making him a safe environment to heal. Best wishes for a full recovery!

 

[Sunshinejammer]

Do you have any Nustock or Neosporin to put on the wound? If you haven't already, I would gently clean the wound and treat it to avoid infection. Sounds like you're doing well making him a safe environment to heal. Best wishes for a full recovery!

I have put neosporin on it and colloidal silver ointment. He's come to a couple times, freaks out a little (seems extremely disoriented, and quickly passes back out). I'm not going to check on him again for a bit b/c it seems to upset him more. I'll wait a few hours and see if he gets on his feet. Thank you, everybody, he is FAR from out of the woods, but we've seen glimpses of hope!!