The Middle Tennessee Thread

[Troyerchicks]

The chicks enjoyed some of the beautiful sunshine yesterday!!

 

[cpegram]

Troyer pretty chickies!!! It's April 9th here is the link.... http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Shows.html

 

[Okla-doodle-doo]

Hello all! Hope everyone had a great weekend.the weather has been so nice. I got some veggie seeds today.
Had 37 chicks hatch at my friends bator, then had some more hatch under a hen or two and now have a grand total of 62! And one is my first python! The rest are silkies,comets(bantam),ee bantams, and three from my standard pair I got from Holly,and a f nn bantams! They a colorful bunch! My silkie trio was buff/partridge mix and the chicks are white,buff,black with red faces,and grey. All are chipmunk striped. They are so cute with their topknots and beards. But the ee,s are cute to with their short legs and stripes. Diffently getting my chick fix!
Jenski glad you succumbed to the broody disease!lol it does have a few great benefits and won't last long!lol

 

[Troyerchicks]

Okay- trying not to freak out as first time chicken owner but...need some advice:

Went into the coop this morning to check on the chickens and noticed all but one were walking around. One of the buff orps was still laying down with her eyes closed. I sat down by her and pet her. She turned toward me but never opened her eyes. She just stayed there while I stroked her back. Just the simple fact that she let me do that has me concerned. What do I need to look for? She's about 18 weeks old.

I know this is kinda vague but the chickens have always, always been up and active.

 

[Jenski]

Troyerchicks, you are absolutely correct: your chicks should be up and running around in the morning, eating, scratching, etc.

While there are many questions we'd have to ask to narrow things down, because of her age the first thing you might suspect is coccidiosis. After you check her body for any obvious injury, check the coop and run. Can you detect any bloody/pinkish/unusual droppings around your coop/pen?

If she is still down you may wish to separate her into a warm kennel or cage and keep her where you can monitor her. I use my home office. Make sure she has access to softened food (I wet mine with warm water) and a cup of water to drink.

It is also possible she just feels poorly because she is getting ready to lay.

Post back here if you wish to update, but you might also post in the Emergencies section to get quicker help. Good luck!

 

[HBuehler]

My first thought...is she still on medicated feed? Even if she is sounds like it could be cocci trying to start now she's outside and the weather has been perfect for it.Medicated feed helps but won't prevent it.We have had a few cases of it with the younger birds when they start going out and playing..they are more prone to get it than older birds since they haven't built up any immunity to it yet..no worries if your chickens go out they are at risk for it..chickens can catch everything

those vague symptoms often missed by busy chicken owners are the first symptom of something wrong so

for noticing she's not right.
I don't play around with it..they will go off their feed quickly..so if it's medicated feed take it out and put in layer or anything not medicated and start on Corid...same med as in the feed but stronger but never give with medicated feed. If she doesn't start eating and perking up some in a few days then look at other possibilities.Our black cochin roo has just recovered from Cocci after being shipped..he was just as listless eyes closed not moving not eating and now he's enjoying his girls again.
Edited...Jenski and I must have been typing at the same time!!

 

[Troyerchicks]

Thanks Jenski and Hbuehler
Artie is up and about now. They are all outside in their run. She has no visible injuries but everyonce in a while I'll notice that she stands there with her eyes closed and then opens them again. No bloody stools in the coop but there was a green one with white/yellowish runny ...stuff. But they did get blueberries for the first time yesterday.
They are on Purina Flock Raiser. I don't think it's medicated.

 

[Shelly_WNC]

Hi All - what a beautiful first day of spring we had and what a great weekend!!!

Jenski - your dream garden sound incredible, but I bet your actual garden is fantastic too. Your killing me with anticipation - I can't wait to start a garden outside. I have seeds started inside, they are looking a little flimsy though (mostly herbs and marigolds). I have a single flouresent light and suspect I need a double light instead.

Holly - I still don't know how you do it all. So many chicks to keep up with coming and going and all the chores. Your making me tired just thinking about it - LOL. I know every time I add another animal to the farm I have less and less time.

Okla-doodle-doo - sounds like you have a FUN mix of chickys there. That's what makes keeping chicks so addictive - the fact that there are like 280 different breeds ... Wow we could be entertained for a lifetime *smile*.

Love the springtime pic Troyerchick!!!! can't wait till my babies can go outside (the one chick I had to help out of the shell and the four quinea keets) , they're feather/wings are just starting to come in. Wow they change over night it seems. How old are those chicks 3-4 weeks? I hope 'Artie' is going to be ok.

I got alot done on the bantam chicken coop/run this weekend, but still so much left to do. Funny how I always think I can get it done in a day - LOL. I have two pairs of bantams so the coop is going to be 4X8 4ft high (split in half). The run 4x12 for each pair, 6 feet high. Seems I never buy enough lumber on the first trip to Lowes and boy does the cost add up quickly. It's alot of fun adding new chicks to the farm but not cheap no matter what they tell you - *smile*.

The Japanese and OEG bantam hens seem to be laying one egg a day, so I started collecting the eggs. They have been paired with the rooster for a while (past owner) so I'm assuming they are fertile. So, I started up the incubator yesterday and tonight I think I will set the 6 eggs I collected and whatever they lay today. these eggs are so small ... is there any big difference between hatching large fowl and bantams (temp/ humidity,days til hatch). Sound be interesting anyway.

 

[HBuehler]

Shelly-it's not easy with so many critters but we are cutting back some..tomorrow I'm heading up to Foley's to get my new babies from them

15 BLRW 5 Partridge Wyandotte some blue and a new BLRW Roo..not cutting back much I know.
That is of coarse if my wonderful husband doesn't take my car keys away from me after my shopping spree today..I can't help myself but I can't get near any store that sells chicks without bringing them home.Today it was 3 silkies I think they are white

and some no one really knows what breed including me so I guess they are assorted Rainbow Layers
Here are some pics of my new chickies..any help with the breeds? Oh they are bantam's I'm thinking blue cochin's and Lavender Ameraucana but the others are really making me wonder

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

I admit you had me for a sec.