November Chicken Chat Thread~~~Join in!~~~

[Nielsen6]

I believe the official count is 7 pullets, 11 roos. Yeah this mama is not happy. Guess I should have ordered from a hatchery that could sex them for me so I would have better chances.

[sarahannecloud9]

Oh no fodie! I thought I had correctly feather sexed mine, but we have conflicting signs. No tails, big combs, ones hold the tail straight up, some are mean and cocky. I'll do another guesstimate today. Sounds like you have my kind of luck. When we first purchased, I bought from 3 homes. 4 from 5 were roos from one, more than half from the other, and the last place was I think we got 11 chickens, 5 were pullets and 2 were the breed he claimed. Also 2 of the sellers promised they knew how to sex them.

[sarahannecloud9]

7 suspected cockerals. Prob more as I based on comb, no tail/feathers, and tail straight up. Some have large combs but look like pullets. Like the australorp does.

Well, SH**, there was another in the same brooder with the same leg problem. Poor thing was sooooo swollen at the joint. They must have either gotten really spooked or caught in the feeder? It looked to have been that way for a while. You couldn't tell untill you picked him up. I'm just tormented by all this bad luck.

Gonna try to give them some outside play time today.

[Nielsen6]

I'd get that feeder out now, make something else out of what you have around. Yikes. Sorry Sarah.

[Resellmybelle]

Sorry Sarah!

Sounds like the trouble I am, having with my lo. It is depressing.

I will try and get a picture soon.

Have to go to church and do some cleaning, mice droppings all under the bathroom sink. UGH!

[Resellmybelle]

Decided to post pics before I leave.

Here is pics of the broken leg. It is stiff now, whereas few days ago it was moving. It is stiff at the joint of the knee and stuck out at a right angle to the righ. He does not stretch it out. Advice on splitting and care welcome.

He is isolated, but in the same brooder, on antibiotics, we are flushing the open wound which appears much better and closing, he's 9 days old, eating and drinking. Not putting any weight on the leg at all. Seems painful. WAH!

[Nielsen6]

Oh Michelle, I'm not sure you could even fix that kind of injury efficiently. Poor guy!

[Resellmybelle]

Fodie, thanks. That is what I was afraid of.

Have any of you had experience with humanely "handling" this type of situation. I am willing to do what is necessary, but need direction here. I do not want him miserable like this.

If anyone thinks it can be mended, lmk. I have his pics on a local fb chicken group too.

[Nielsen6]

Yeah, I am no expert for sure. But I hope you get some advice and he heals. I sure hated having to cull my injured chicks. Breaking their neck is the most humane way I think. But maybe give it a bit to get some more expert advice on the matter, I would hate for you to cull him and someone to have the cure. Good luck hun, it's so hard to make a decision like that.

[3lilbubs]

Aw, poor sweet baby. If he's in good health otherwise and you have a closed chick yard to keep him in I would amputate it. He/she will along just fine without it. If not, I would cull. I have never done it but DH uses a pair of garden shears to cut the head off.