Théo and the chickens des Sauches

[BDutch]

I would try it for at least ten days to protect your existing flock if you can manage it.
If you stay clearly focused on protecting your existing flock then it will be easier to develop routines that prevent your current flock from going near them.
Also remember your shoes and outer clothes.
I quarantined the Math Majors when Barb gave them to me and it was a real pain so I definitely empathize!

I have been reading a lot on a Dutch chicken forum several years ago. It seemed that people who bought new chickens to add to their flock often got into trouble, if the seller had chickens in crowded conditions and from sellers that sold out of box . There even was an unreliable seller (trader) that advertised a lot and sold many infected chickens from a barn or garage that was not his own backyard.
Advice on this forum was to quarantine at least 3 weeks.*

Buying my first chicks from a hobbyist /commercial seller, I had too many chicks who dropped dead after week or two.

For me this experience and reading what other hobbyists had experienced, it was an important reason for me not to buy new chicks/pullets after I had a healthy flock of 4 Dutch. I let my broodies hatch eggs if I wanted more chickens.
The only exception was Kraai, who came as a loner from people that were moving to a house with a tiny garden.

*PS if you don’t want to take much risks with newcomers.

 

[Shadrach]

She has thrown out all the starter feed from the small plate and chick feeder and has them scratching around the hay to pick it from the floor .

This is normal. Mum is trying to teach them to forage and one doesn't forage out of a bowl. Keep putting the chick starter down for them and let mum scratch it out. It will improve in a week or so.

 

[ManueB]

I have been reading a lot on a Dutch chicken forum several years ago. It seemed that people who bought new chickens to add to their flock often got into trouble, if the seller had chickens in crowded conditions and from sellers that sold out of box . There even was an unreliable seller (trader) that advertised a lot and sold many infected chickens from a barn or garage that was not his own backyard.
Advice on this forum was to quarantine at least 3 weeks.*

Buying my first chicks from a hobbyist /commercial seller, I had too many chicks who dropped dead after week or two.

For me this experience and reading what other hobbyists had experienced, it was an important reason for me not to buy new chicks/pullets after I had a healthy flock of 4 Dutch. I let my broodies hatch eggs if I wanted more chickens.
The only exception was Kraai, who came as a loner from people that were moving to a house with a tiny garden.

*PS if you don’t want to take much risks with newcomers.

I believe the ones more at risk are the new comers (and of course the chicks). They are unhealthy but I don't think they are sick, unless they are carriers without symptoms, whereas my current flock has a declared disease that could potentially be lethal for some of the chickens. The fact that the new comers are in poor condition will make them more sensitive to this bacteria or virus. Although I can see they have improved after just a week being here, and hopefully in another week they will be better still.
The breeder has actually a good reputation around here but she supplies mainly our rural area with layers and dual birds. It maybe that people don't really pay attention. I expressly asked her to pick healthy birds completely regardless of the breed or type and I'm not happy with the outcome.
Of course I will try for a closed flock now since we have a disease. If I had known before I would have cancelled getting the new chickens. But this also depends on how the chicks fare and how many pull through.

The weather is not making the quarantine easy, we are having huge storms every day, which is great for us but not great for my chickens who are not used to be confined at all and now have to be locked up when I let the new chickens out so they don't pay them a visit, and adding to this not being able to be outside part of the day due to thunder and hail. They are not british or deutsch used to stay out in crappy weather !
Nougat is doing slightly better but definitely unwell. And unfortunately Brune spent some time in the nest this morning without laying and I know this means her respite is probably over

Léa didn't take the chicks out but hanged out in the run between storms. I saw today that she will be a fierce protector , she attacked Blanche wildly as soon as she acted like she was going to chase a chick. Gaston met some of the chicks and he likes them.

One thing I'm really relieved about is that the whole flock's attitude toward the chicks is much more normal than with Chipie's last year. Théo is ignoring them and moving out when Léa comes near, and the other hens are more or less doing the same. They had been horrible with Chipie's hatch.

Hesitated to come out, but changed her mind!

 

[RoyalChick]

what are they RC? And I spy another foot below...a lurker!

@ManueB got it right. They are chickens. Specifically cute baby chickens!
I believe from nearest the camera back they are:
- Ameraucana
- Opal Legbar
- Marans x Ameraucana

I am not sure who the lurker is but I only have five so it will be either a Welbar or a Crested Cream Legbar.
All that is assuming I understood what the breeder told me and haven’t muddled them up!

 

[Perris]

that sounds like a very interesting mix. I've been looking for Welbars since I first thought about getting chickens; they are very hard to find here. Lucky you!

 

[RoyalChick]

that sounds like a very interesting mix. I've been looking for Welbars since I first thought about getting chickens; they are very hard to find here. Lucky you!

Bernie is a gold Welbar. She is the one we first called Longshanks (for the obvious reason she has very long legs) and she went lame at about three weeks. It seemed to be vitamin B2 deficiency and I gave her masses of supplement and she grew out of it.
Sylvie, the next longshanks is a silver Welbar. So far her legs are working fine. She has beautiful black and white feathers - as a chick at least.
Bernie lays a lovely deep terracotta colored egg with light speckles. She lays maybe 2-3 times a week which I hope is healthier than laying more frequently.
The guy I got them from is a Welbar enthusiast who is trying to revive the breed here in the US.
He just loves them and I must say I can see why.

 

[ManueB]

Ok, I know I said I wouldn't ramble about worrying every five minutes and now I am. Piou-piou is sick this morning .

 

[MaryJanet]

Ok, I know I said I wouldn't ramble about worrying every five minutes and now I am. Piou-piou is sick this morning .

Oh no.

I'm so sorry.

 

[ManueB]

She seems to be doing a bit better now after resting all morning. It may have been something she ate because she had a bad yellow diarrhea? And now she passed two normal poops. I have to learn to wait at least 24 hours before thinking they are dying otherwise I'll get an ulcer.

In the meantime however Nougat tore off a nail and she has been bleeding tremendously. Even after compression for ten minutes and putting corn starch it was still bleeding. I dressed it up like I could. It's only midday, I'm covered in blood and I'm already tired. How do you full time working people manage to keep chickens, I wonder ?

But then I saw this and I felt better

 

[MaryJanet]

She seems to be doing a bit better now after resting all morning. It may have been something she ate because she had a bad yellow diarrhea? And now she passed two normal poops. I have to learn to wait at least 24 hours before thinking they are dying otherwise I'll get an ulcer.

In the meantime however Nougat tore off a nail and she has been bleeding tremendously. Even after compression for ten minutes and putting corn starch it was still bleeding. I dressed it up like I could. It's only midday, I'm covered in blood and I'm already tired. How do you full time working people manage to keep chickens, I wonder ?

But then I saw this and I felt better
View attachment 3518661

Chickens can be very hard emotional work.