Recent content by azygous

There really is no need to coop up chicks for several days for them to imprint on the coop as home. They have an instinct to seek cover at night, so all you really need to do is teach them how to go in. It does help, though, on the day you plan to move them into the coop, to summon them inside...

A clicker is just a convenient audible cue. You can select a word or use a bell or other signal. I start training my baby chicks to come to me in their first week, and I use the clicker because it's handy. Before that I just said, "Babies!" when I wanted them to come. I reinforced their...

How old are they? One big reason why youngsters refuse to go inside the coop at night is adult chickens bullying them, but you have a clean slate and no worries in that area. You do need to teach young chickens to go inside at night. I've never, ever had them figure it out on their own. Picking...

Broody raised chicks are the most wonderful thing to watch. Most do an adequate job of it, but there are some that blow it. It's happened in my flock and it can be heart breaking. I have a section in my enclosed run where I brood baby chicks, and one time a broody hen moved in there to take...

You won't find out who or what is eliminating chicks without surveillance. But you might prevent further tragedy by sectioning off the broody nest from the rest of the flock. Years ago when I was hatching from my flock with a broody, I had a dedicated coop section with its own little run for a...

Just a guess. Perhaps face mites have infested his beak. I'd try treating him with pour-on Ivermectin.

Yes, she's probably dying. The liquid emerging from her beak may be an indication of organ shutdown. Internal laying, especially if it's been happening for a while, is usually fatal unless the abdominal cavity is surgically cleaned out. But even then, the prognosis isn't terrific. There's a...

Is leaving her in the incubator overnight an option? It would have the right amount of heat and safety regardless of what position she ends up in overnight. I'd hesitate putting her with other chicks until she can remain upright, or you would risk her being trampled or smothered.

Chances are very good that it is wry neck. Wry neck can manifest in many different ways. Get the chick started on vitamin E oil served with egg for better absorption. For good measure, to boost the chick's energy reserves, put a teaspoon of sugar into one cup of water and let it drink that for a...

First of all, any chicken making a whole lot of vocal noise is not sick or having any sort of health issue. It is the quiet, lethargic chickens that should cause concern. Sick or injured chickens are silent and will not call attention to themselves. You are onto something, however. Bullying can...

I would say around the beginning of the third week of age.

Post a few pics and we can age them for you.

The red butt is from the Epsom soaks. It increases blood flow. She's been soaked enough. Now place her in her bin in a quiet dark place and leave her alone to rest. Be sure she has water. Put a little sugar in the water to elevate her glucose. She may pass the egg in an hour or it may take over...

Lots of literature out there on the topic. https://www.etprotein.com/symptoms-of-too-much-protein-in-chickens-health-guide/ No harm has been done yet. You might try diluting the high protein feed with a lower protein chick starter until you feed out the original bag.

That's too high. Feeding such high amounts of protein as a starter for baby chickens can have long term consequences in skeletal and organ development and set up health issues that can shorten and complicate the lives of your chicks. It's advised to limit the protein fed to baby chickens to no...