Update - chick and chooks

[daisychook]

After managing to bring back to life our chick, it was a sad day last Sunday when our Maran died for no real reason, was a bit off colour the day before, kept perching, then on Sunday afternoon went into the nest box and wouldnt come out. We then decided to isolate her, and I would take her to the vet on Monday morning, only to go and check on her and she had passed away so very sad. Then had to completely clean the house (just in case), and there was then no choice all chooks and chicks together - that means fingers crossed and in ears, and leave them to it.

One week later, all is well, the Buff O is no longer cowardly custard, they have a pecking order, although the chick thinks she higher up the order than she is, but all have settled down.

Hope everyone elses chooks are behaving themselves, ours now seem to be in moult and have stopped laying too, but I think that is normal.

They are now all pecking together on the grass, its so lovely to see them!!

[TPeers]

Sorry about your Maran, how old was she? Hope having them all together is not causing too much of a problem for you!

May end up being a good thing if it 'removes' the factions and means one flock.

Terry

[kirsty b]

Sorry to hear about the Maran Daisy. Glad to see that its tempered by good news about chick's recovery and the others getting on ok.

[daisychook]

Hi, thanks for your comments. We are wondering if Flora (our Maran) was older than we were led to believe (how often do we hear this on the forum from non-chook experts!!).

Our original 2 took ages to lay, Flora laid nearly from day one, and seemed an established bird, whereas the other two were still like chicks in comparison (sold as POL - although so was Flora)

It is really sad when you lose them, but it seems its all part of chook keeping. The others are all in together now, chicks still on growers, so need to watch the others, although they still seem to be eating their layers, at least when I am around.

One flock, one faction, whether this helps anyone (cos Im no expert!!), but putting all three in at once with the original two seemed to confuse them totally, and they didnt really know what to do (this was more by necessity than choice but has worked for us) - so they all seem to settle quickly, I think from this experience, I would integrate a min of 2 new ones into the flock rather than one, as the 'ones' we have integrated all suffered the bullying, whereas this time there wasnt any.

As I said luck rather than science, but at the moment I am not complaining.
Would be interested in any of you more experienced/expert keepers could comment on my 'theory', feel free to say 'rubbish - just lucky'!!!!

The chick (the one at deaths door) was having a lovely dust bath this morning, really really enjoying herself, a joy to see...!!!! (softie moment sorry!!!)

[Headfry]

Daisychook.... sorry about your girl, but pleased the others seem to be getting along ok now.
good luck with them.

[moggssue]

Hi Daisychook - so sorry to hear about your maran, but happy the others seem to be settled. Nature gives with one hand .... do keep us updated now and then.