Where did they come from???

[rjohns39]

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chick-shoulder-scraped.1244449/

You're on the right path... You might want to put some blu-kote on the bare spots as well, wear gloves while applying.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

You're on the right path... You might want to put some blu-kote on the bare spots as well, wear gloves while applying.

I looked for that stuff...but was unable to find any. The local Ag place didn't have any...neither did TSC. I gave the baby a good bath today. The exposed skin is normal skin color now. Just looks like the baby is missing feathers rather than a wound. How long does it take for new feathers to grow? I figured I'll keep the baby in the broody jail inside the run during the day until the feathers grow back and cover the bare spots.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

You're on the right path... You might want to put some blu-kote on the bare spots as well, wear gloves while applying.

My secretary thinks she has some Blu-Kote at home. She has horses. Is that the same stuff?

 

[Molpet]

yes same stuff

 

[lazy gardener]

Have not yet done nipple waterers. But, my thoughts on training them: smear some FF or peanut butter on the nipples.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Have not yet done nipple waterers. But, my thoughts on training them: smear some FF or peanut butter on the nipples.

I heal each bird beak to the nipple used other hand to push the button make water come out like 4 times each bird no one has died of thirst

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

I heal each bird beak to the nipple used other hand to push the button make water come out like 4 times each bird no one has died of thirst

If I could grab a chicken I would try that. Lol

 

[pennyJo1960]

then use the peanut butter

 

[rjohns39]

Once one figures it out they all will. I take day old chicks and peck their beak on the nipple a couple times until they drink and it doesn't take long for them all to be drinking. Height is also kind of important, the nipples should be just above beak height. I find if I have them too low, they'll just make a puddle and then drink from the puddle.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Update...and more dang chicken drama!

The Broody Jail
So Sunday morning (1st day without rain in over a week and a half) I lug the Broody Jail out to the run. My intentions were to use it as a lookie-no-touchy pen for Cleopatra (Cleo for short). I cut some wood to fit the floor, added shavings, food, water and her perch from her hospital room (tree branch).

I observed the integration for over an hour and felt I wouldn't need to utilize the pen after all. However...Miss Bashful was MIA from the run. Yep, she was starting her broody nonsense again. We had a battle of wits for a bit then I decided to remove the shavings and floor insert and plop Mish Bashful into jail. I had enough dang chicken drama by lunchtime that I went fishing for a few hours to relax.

Cleo was integrated back to the flock without any major issue...until bed time. She followed the others into the coop but started her chirping. I call it her "I want to be held" chirp. She did this each night while in her hospital room. I would swaddle her in a towel and hold her to my chest lightly patting her like I was burping an infant until she dozed off. I let Bashful out of jail so she could go roost for the night.

Now...the BF and I were affixing additional hardware cloth on the upper half of run at the time. He is on the inside of the run, me on the outside. (Zip ties easier to weave with 2 folks). Down the ramp comes Cleo...chirping her "I need bedtime huggies" chirp. Looks up and sees the BF kneeling on the Broody Jail. She flies up, chirping away and jumps up on his arm. He cuddles her and she climbs up his chest to nuzzle under his beard. So there we are half laughing and "awwwwing" and half going, 'crap, now what?'. We finished up and he handed Cleo to me. I hold her for a bit...rocking and cuddling.

I open the nest box and put her in with the other babies already cuddled together. (Bashful is sitting in the other nest box screaming her poofed up head off) Cleo climbs over all of them to get out of box , jumps up on the perch chirping at me through the window. Momma Mocha comes right over and starts pecking Cleo pushing her off. Yeah...not happening while I'm standing there! I rip open the door , grab Cleo who was dangling from the window sill, and point my finger right at Mocha telling her she will be soup in ten minutes if she doesn't cut her shit! "What kind of Mother are you!?!?"

I hold Cleo for a few more minutes then try again with the nestbox entry. Bashful goes apeshit again but I'm just too mentally exhausted to deal with her broody butt at the moment. This time around Cleo settles and all is peaceful.

This morning...all is well...except for Miss Bashful...she's all determined to be a Momma. Into jail she went for the day.