wild hair = coop & chicks

[Apple Bill]

Started reading BYC about a year ago. Great plans in mind for a coop. But, working full time, running a side business, working part time in EMS & a volunteer firefighter, there is little to no time.

Got a wild hair Sat & took our two youngest to Atwoods to "look". They had a sale on their prefab coops (cringed a bit, but I won't be building anything from scratch soon). Girls obviously fell in love with the chicks. We picked up a few, then the coop & some supplies. Not how I generally do things, but then again gotta live a little.

Girls had a great time with the chicks while I assembled the coop. Not bad for $160 unit. Set them up on the covered back patio until we can get something more permanent out in the yard.

Yesterday we noticed one chick, one of the Ameracaunas if ID'ed correctly, standing in place, kind of bobbing, and non-stop chirping. Eyes closed most of the time. It would move around some and eat. Poop seemed normal compared to the others. We did notice that its anus was red, didn't seem bloody but more like a slight prolapse.

This morning that chick was dead. I know QC on $2 farm store chicks probably isn't top notch. But, any ideas? Something it came home with or that could have been prevented? Naturally it was the one my 3 yr old chose as hers. She never held it more than a second, she didn't like the feel of the nails on her palm.

I'll try to get some decent pictures of the others tonight and see if maybe we can get them ID'ed.

Thanks!

 

[scflock]

Started reading BYC about a year ago. Great plans in mind for a coop. But, working full time, running a side business, working part time in EMS & a volunteer firefighter, there is little to no time.

Got a wild hair Sat & took our two youngest to Atwoods to "look". They had a sale on their prefab coops (cringed a bit, but I won't be building anything from scratch soon). Girls obviously fell in love with the chicks. We picked up a few, then the coop & some supplies. Not how I generally do things, but then again gotta live a little.

Girls had a great time with the chicks while I assembled the coop. Not bad for $160 unit. Set them up on the covered back patio until we can get something more permanent out in the yard.

Yesterday we noticed one chick, one of the Ameracaunas if ID'ed correctly, standing in place, kind of bobbing, and non-stop chirping. Eyes closed most of the time. It would move around some and eat. Poop seemed normal compared to the others. We did notice that its anus was red, didn't seem bloody but more like a slight prolapse.

This morning that chick was dead. I know QC on $2 farm store chicks probably isn't top notch. But, any ideas? Something it came home with or that could have been prevented? Naturally it was the one my 3 yr old chose as hers. She never held it more than a second, she didn't like the feel of the nails on her palm.

I'll try to get some decent pictures of the others tonight and see if maybe we can get them ID'ed.

Thanks!

That happens. Maybe it had a hard time hatching, or it had bad genetics. It doesn't necessarily mean that there was a problem with the hatchery. I'm not saying it's impossible, but 10% mortality on delivered hatchery chicks is not unheard of. Even chicks I hatch at home will sometimes not make it past the first week. I know there's no way to explain that to a 3 year old, but I wouldn't let it worry me about the other chicks. Some chicks just aren't meant to survuve.
I build my own coops now, but pre-fab is a great choice for a first-time small scale keeper. After you raise them for a while, you will learn things that you would change if you ever decide to build your own, and for the first timer a prefab can actually be cheaper than building one
The ameraucana chick would be striped like a chipmunk

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

That happens. Maybe it had a hard time hatching, or it had bad genetics. It doesn't necessarily mean that there was a problem with the hatchery. I'm not saying it's impossible, but 10% mortality on delivered hatchery chicks is not unheard of. Even chicks I hatch at home will sometimes not make it past the first week. I know there's no way to explain that to a 3 year old, but I wouldn't let it worry me about the other chicks. Some chicks just aren't meant to survuve.
I build my own coops now, but pre-fab is a great choice for a first-time small scale keeper. After you raise them for a while, you will learn things that you would change if you ever decide to build your own, and for the first timer a prefab can actually be cheaper than building one
The ameraucana chick would be striped like a chipmunk

X 2 on all counts - between hatching issues, genetic issues, shipping stress and stresses that can occur in a retail setting (ie children mishandling chicks if the display brooders are not properly covered) it is amazing that as many of them come through it as well as they do when you think about it.
Given the source, it is likely the chick was actually an Easter Egger - often sold as Ameraucana in a retail setting such as that.

 

[scflock]

X 2 on all counts - between hatching issues, genetic issues, shipping stress and stresses that can occur in a retail setting (ie children mishandling chicks if the display brooders are not properly covered) it is amazing that as many of them come through it as well as they do when you think about it.
Given the source, it is likely the chick was actually an Easter Egger - often sold as Ameraucana in a retail setting such as that.

I wonder what percentage of Easter Egger owners on BYC bought "Ameraucanas". I know I'm one

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I wonder what percentage of Easter Egger owners on BYC bought "Ameraucanas". I know I'm one

100% of those who bought them from any retail outlet and/or hatcheries other than Meyer (and with them you'd have to order and pay the price of the true Ameraucana vs. their EE) would be my guess. The frustrating bit about that is those who are sourcing their birds from those sources are likely looking for production more than a breed standard specimen - and so when they buy these "Americana" chicks they are likely just looking for something that lays pretty, colorful eggs - which is something EE do even better than Ameraucana when it comes down to production numbers. I find that sad because the hatcheries could be completely honest in their labeling and still have sales numbers that would be just as good as the misrepresented products they peddle.

 

[scflock]

100% of those who bought them from any retail outlet and/or hatcheries other than Meyer (and with them you'd have to order and pay the price of the true Ameraucana vs. their EE) would be my guess. The frustrating bit about that is those who are sourcing their birds from those sources are likely looking for production more than a breed standard specimen - and so when they buy these "Americana" chicks they are likely just looking for something that lays pretty, colorful eggs - which is something EE do even better than Ameraucana when it comes down to production numbers. I find that sad because the hatcheries could be completely honest in their labeling and still have sales numbers that would be just as good as the misrepresented products they peddle.

That describes me perfectly. I wanted colorful eggs, and at the time didn't know the difference. I called them Ameraucanas until I started reading BYC. Now I call them Easter Eggers, and that's how I advertise the chicks. I have a waiting list. They come in a wide array of colors, and are prolific layers of very large and pretty eggs. I don't understand why they are so commonly misrepresented. Most people aren't showing, and my wife actually prefers the term Easter Egger

 

[Apple Bill]

Thanks for the replies all. Three year old is ok, I'm sure the next one she chooses will be "Brownie Bob" also.

Yeah I don't care either if they are Ameracauna or EEs, my wife just wanted blue eggs. They do look like a chipmunk.

Couple questions;
No idea how old they are, the RIR are about double the size of the other two kind and look to be starting some adult feathers. EEs & black mystery ones are about the size of a hamster. Should they be in a tub with a heat lamp, or is out in the coop with a heat lamp ok?

My 8 yr old (future vet) hardly put them down all day yesterday. Last night her arms, chest & back were blotchy red. I assume some sort of allergy or irritation. As long as it doesn't affect respiratory we'll treat it as a nuisance. Before bed she picked out a long sleeve t-shirt and gloves as "chicken holding gear" for today. Anyone else experience this or have tips?

Had something else I was going to ask but it escapes me right now.

 

[scflock]

Thanks for the replies all. Three year old is ok, I'm sure the next one she chooses will be "Brownie Bob" also.

Yeah I don't care either if they are Ameracauna or EEs, my wife just wanted blue eggs. They do look like a chipmunk.

Couple questions;
No idea how old they are, the RIR are about double the size of the other two kind and look to be starting some adult feathers. EEs & black mystery ones are about the size of a hamster. Should they be in a tub with a heat lamp, or is out in the coop with a heat lamp ok?

My 8 yr old (future vet) hardly put them down all day yesterday. Last night her arms, chest & back were blotchy red. I assume some sort of allergy or irritation. As long as it doesn't affect respiratory we'll treat it as a nuisance. Before bed she picked out a long sleeve t-shirt and gloves as "chicken holding gear" for today. Anyone else experience this or have tips?

Had something else I was going to ask but it escapes me right now.

Sounds like an allergic reaction, but I don't know. I don't have any allergies. Sounds like the RIRs are probably a few weeks older than the others. As long as they aren't bullies, should be fine. Personally, I like mine brooder outside. Was the prefab coop one with a run and an "upstairs"? I use one of those as a brooder. If it is cold or drafty, I will cover the sides with cardboard or plywood and hang the lamp from the open area in front, that way they can go to the cooler back of the run if they want to. This time of year I don't cover it unless it is windy for the first few weeks. If it has a ramp to the roost, as they grow they will start checking out the ramp. By the time you turn the heat off, they will already be roosting at night

 

[Apple Bill]

The RIRs try to throw their weight around, but the others aren't taking it, especially the black ones. (BTW I discovered "black chicks" is not an appropriate search term when trying to ID chickens).

Here's the setup we got;


They're already checking out the ramp, to about halfway up. One went all the way up last night chasing a bug that came in the coop.

 

[scflock]

The RIRs try to throw their weight around, but the others aren't taking it, especially the black ones. (BTW I discovered "black chicks" is not an appropriate search term when trying to ID chickens). Here's the setup we got; They're already checking out the ramp, to about halfway up. One went all the way up last night chasing a bug that came in the coop.

Perfect! That is the exact same coop I use as a brooder. I have six 3 week old d'uccle bantams in it right now and don't cover it. I hang my lamp exactly like you did. I have 2 homemade brooders, but that is my favorite Did you get the run? There is a run that affixes straight to the front that will double the run size as they grow