Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[good_egg]

Ok, so now I have finally got my head around my new situation I am beginning to work out the practicalities. I now have 4 young girls, I'm guessing that they are all around 10 weeks - but this is is a bit of a non-educated guess! I have texted supplier/breeder and asked her to confirm - was too flustered to check yesterday.

 

I have bought the girls garvo growers mash (715? fancy stuff as all they had), it is quite powdery but the girls seem to tuck in. They have all found the food and the water - I put a bit of lifeguard in this as they have had a few stressful days and a couple are going through juvenile moult. I assume the mash and the additives are ok for this age and I will move them onto layers as they start? Can I also feed all the same treats as before - corn, veg, mealworms etc? I know they need a bit more protein but I assume all this is fine.

 

My main worry is the cube... Last night they all fell asleep underneath and I picked them up and put them in the nestbox. They managed to make it down the ladder this morning, but it was a bit undignified! Especially Connie who has a bit of a curled outside toe (I knew when I got her, but breeder said wasn't anything dangerous, just to watch for bumblefoot). Should I do anything to the ladder to make it easier for them or will they manage ok? Also, I seem to recall that they shouldn't sleep on the roosting bars (but I can't find the post) - is it better to tuck them in the nest box or should I just remove the roosting bars for the next few weeks (til when?)?

 

I have some marriages treated flubenvet pellets, but they are layers pellets - when should I worm the girls (want to let them settle first) and should I buy some flubenvet powder instead of using the pellets? Is there anything else I should know or do? Eeek.....

[Purplemaniacs]

They are too young to have layers pellets as layers has too much calcium for young chooks which can lead to deformities.

 

I would take the bars out and put some bedding in the area. That is what I did with the eglu , I took out the bars and put aubroise in, mine seem to be very happy in there, as they are now 18 weeks I am going to put the bars back in. I will keep mine on growers until they start laying.

 

Can't help with the ladder as I have only had big girls in the cube, could you add some extra runs and something at the bottom to help them on their way, I have an upturned large flower pot.

 

Chrissie

[mimi5]

Hi there!

 

I have a tip for making the ladder easier for your little girls! I have pekins and they found the cube ladder difficult so I used an idea I found on the web. I got some plastic green garden mesh from Homebase and cabled tied it over the ladder, it enables the pekins to get a purchase on the way up and down!! Also it's easily removed it you don't need/want it anymore! There is a picture of the ladder on one of my earlier posts (with a girlie in the pic too!!!) Not sure how you can find it though!

 

I have some little ones I hatched this year (13 & 11 wks) they are in my wooden coop with run.

 

Best wishes

[good_egg]

Ok, so i have just confirmed thier ages.... The wee Maran, Annette is actually only about 7 weeks old, she is off heat but only just! The other are up to about 10 weeks, maybe a smidge older for Buffy.... Are they ok to be on growers mash or should they still be on chick crumb? Do I need to do anything else for them? No wonder they struggle with the ladder - will try and build a wee ramp today. WIll they be warm enough in the cube nest box? Any suggestions on perking up my wee Buffy who currently has a tucked tail, but is eating and drinking fine, I think she is recovering from the stress of the move and the beating that my welsummer gave her - can't feel any issues but will check again tonight, her tail came up while she was out FR in the netting last night. Eeeek, can feel more stressful weeks coming on!

[zakjon-98]

I read on here that chicks can go on to growers at around 6 weeks so they should be fine

[Purplemaniacs]

Ahh they are little.

 

I would keep them on the growers if I was you. As there are four to cuddle up and it is summer (or so they say ) I think they will be warm enough in the cube. You just need to come up with a way of getting them into the cube. Having said that my bantam chicks were very keen on flying so I think they would have had a good go at the ladder.

 

Good luck with them. Any chance of any photos?

 

Chrissie

[good_egg]

Thought I would update you! I have tied the plastic netting on to the ladder - so far no one has used it to go to bed but it has made exits in the morning a little more celebrity's! My Buffy who was drooping her tail seems to be bringing it up a lot more now - she uses it to counter balance when eating/drinking etc (they all do) which she does a lot of the time so it's hard to be definitive but it's at least a bit perkier the rest of the time and when she is sitting. Yesterday was horrible, we live near the sea so rain, haar and wind! I put a cardboard box under the cube with a hole so they could get some shelter seeing as they haven't Sussex the ladder. Of course they all went to bed in that too , but at least they were easier to reach than in the back corner. I think the main battle is they are a little too young to want to roost and instead all try and bury under each other - bless! The only other thing I have discovered is that the nest box leaks, knew this before but wasn't big issue as they didn't sleep in it - had to seal with duck tape last night! Still a few snuffles, wondered about asking vet for tylan? Also when to worm , don't want to do too soon, could add some Verm-X as an intermediate? Thanks!