Taking over some sickly chicks

[LiseeLou]

Morning update!
Both crops feel much softer. The larger chick (yellowish head) is still a little enlarged, but squishy instead of hard like it was on Saturday. I’ve seen the orange head one poop some healthy poops (not so watery as before). Yellow head’s poop was whitish, but I think that’s still normal?
they love the eggs and oatmeal!! Thanks Chickeroonie! Is this ok for them to eat frequently, or more of a treat?
I’m excited, I’ll be getting some free guinea pig supplies later today, a better cage and some real bedding.
Any guesses on their ages judging by these pictures? I’ll be going to Wilco today and plan on asking them how old the chicks they sell are. I’m thinking these may be as young as 4 weeks.

 

[Chickeroonie keeper]

The

Morning update!
Both crops feel much softer. The larger chick (yellowish head) is still a little enlarged, but squishy instead of hard like it was on Saturday. I’ve seen the orange head one poop some healthy poops (not so watery as before). Yellow head’s poop was whitish, but I think that’s still normal?
they love the eggs and oatmeal!! Thanks Chickeroonie! Is this ok for them to eat frequently, or more of a treat?
I’m excited, I’ll be getting some free guinea pig supplies later today, a better cage and some real bedding.
Any guesses on their ages judging by these pictures? I’ll be going to Wilco today and plan on asking them how old the chicks they sell are. I’m thinking these may be as young as 4 weeks. View attachment 2707902View attachment 2707904View attachment 2707915View attachment 2707915View attachment 2707919

They look about 3-4 weeks to me!

 

[rosemarythyme]

They look maybe 3 weeks, but if they haven't been fed well that could've held back their growth somewhat. Hard to tell what's fluff and what's feathers.

 

[LiseeLou]

Check out the new digs!
Repurposed guinea pig cage, some sticks for roosting, and lots of soft bedding!

The bedding turned out to be paper based small animal bedding, but poking around forums here, it seemed it should be fine. I don’t know if they don’t like the bedding or are just liking the roosts, but they do seem to avoid the ground itself. But the bedding is super nice for poop cleanup, it soaks up the excess moisture, and I can just grab a clump of paper around the poop, and voila! Clean brooder! Speaking of poop, it seems much healthier for both chicks, solid-ish with a white hat.
Here’s a better photo of their feather situation:

They are preening plenty, so I’m hopeful they will continue to improve feather wise.

I’ve also named them, Fezzik (slightly larger with yellow head) and Inigo (orange head). Our chicks last year had one with an extra toe, so we named him Count Rugen (six fingered man) and the Princess Bride names grew from there. Yellowish one: Buttercup, Black one: Wesley. Unfortunately Count Rugen, who turned out to be a rooster, escaped and flew away last winter. We got a replacement rooster last month, called Louis by his old owners, I’m thinking maybe Humperdink? Or is that too on the nose for a rooster .

 

[Chickeroonie keeper]

Check out the new digs!
Repurposed guinea pig cage, some sticks for roosting, and lots of soft bedding!View attachment 2711238View attachment 2711240
The bedding turned out to be paper based small animal bedding, but poking around forums here, it seemed it should be fine. I don’t know if they don’t like the bedding or are just liking the roosts, but they do seem to avoid the ground itself. But the bedding is super nice for poop cleanup, it soaks up the excess moisture, and I can just grab a clump of paper around the poop, and voila! Clean brooder! Speaking of poop, it seems much healthier for both chicks, solid-ish with a white hat.
Here’s a better photo of their feather situation:
View attachment 2711248
They are preening plenty, so I’m hopeful they will continue to improve feather wise.

I’ve also named them, Fezzik (slightly larger with yellow head) and Inigo (orange head). Our chicks last year had one with an extra toe, so we named him Count Rugen (six fingered man) and the Princess Bride names grew from there. Yellowish one: Buttercup, Black one: Wesley. Unfortunately Count Rugen, who turned out to be a rooster, escaped and flew away last winter. We got a replacement rooster last month, called Louis by his old owners, I’m thinking maybe Humperdink? Or is that too on the nose for a rooster .

Looks much better! I love the names lol

 

[LiseeLou]

Today was finally nice enough for Fezzik and Inigo to get some outside time. They really liked the dirt and took some glorious dust baths.
But almost as soon as they got set up, they of course spilled their food. Very quickly, an army of ants came to clean it up. I don’t know what kind of ants they are, and the big chickens had a feast. The little chicks ate a few as well.

But I’m a little worried that they might bite the chicks? Or make them nervous to be on the ground? I’ll probably put their outdoor cage in a different spot tomorrow

 

[rosemarythyme]

But almost as soon as they got set up, they of course spilled their food. Very quickly, an army of ants came to clean it up. I don’t know what kind of ants they are, and the big chickens had a feast. The little chicks ate a few as well.

But I’m a little worried that they might bite the chicks? Or make them nervous to be on the ground? I’ll probably put their outdoor cage in a different spot tomorrow

Most ants are harmless and mostly interested in the food or moisture or whatever it is that attracts them. So they're probably ok, though best to not take a risk if you aren't sure what kind of ants you're dealing with.

 

[LiseeLou]

I’m worried about Fezzik. He’s limping, trying to not walk on his right leg, and sitting with it poked out funny. I can’t see anything different between the two feet, but he’s definitely hurting. Any tips to help him?

Edit: looking again, it’s swollen right at the pad, and he’s holding it curled up. He’s trying to roost now, not sure if he’ll perch or sit for the night.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’m worried about Fezzik. He’s limping, trying to not walk on his right leg, and sitting with it poked out funny. I can’t see anything different between the two feet, but he’s definitely hurting. Any tips to help him?

Edit: looking again, it’s swollen right at the pad, and he’s holding it curled up. He’s trying to roost now, not sure if he’ll perch or sit for the night.

If it doesn't improve on its own over the next couple of days, try soaking his feet in epsom salts and getting the area cleaned out. Possibly vet wrapping it to protect it if you do see cuts or punctures.

 

[LiseeLou]

Well, it’s been a while, and Fezzik and Inigo are both doing well. Fezzik’s foot was better the very next day. Yesterday I finished the fence that splits our run, so they get to be outside for real! It’s so funny, in the brooder they look so big, but out in the run they look so small!

We are starting to have pretty warm weather. Obviously chickens live in hot climates all the time, but I haven’t seen much about if chicks can get too hot. Will they be ok with 85-90 F temperatures in the day? They are about 5 weeks old now. I noticed they were panting quite a bit today, and I have made a few shade structures to supplement their tree shade. Any tips on helping them beat the heat?

Then I also had a few questions about transitioning to sleeping in a coop instead of the brooder. Looking around, it seems like they are ready for this? Nighttime temps won’t go below 50 F, and their coop feels a good 5 degrees warmer just by feel. However, they don’t seem to like sleeping in there yet. This evening I went to check on them after dark and they were sleeping in the open. I went ahead and shut them in the coop for tonight but started to wonder if I should? I wondered if they would be disoriented by the darkness after being used to the lamp all the time.