Wookie Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 Today on the way back from work at lunchtime, I found a couple of chicks by the side of the road. They had fallen out of a hole in an HGV transporting them somewhere and the lorry was gone. so, I scooped them up and popped them in a tissue box that a bloke in a Transit gave me and took them home. They are now in an animal transporter box, complete with straw bedding, chick crumbs and water and sitting besides me loudly chirping as I type. The thing is, I have no idea how old they are and, whilst we have the right food for them, I need to know how to take care of the little tykes until they are old enough to join our two hens in their run. I also need to know how to find out if they are hens or cocks, because I very much doubt that our neighbours are going to want us having two cocks (*snigger*) in the garden. So, can anyone tell me how old commercially shipped chicks are roughly. Also, I need to know what I should be doing to keep them alive and growing until they can fend for themselves. Do I need a heat lamp for them? Any special food or vitamins? Any vaccinations? Any other tips or tricks I should know? Help me please!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 Today on the way back from work at lunchtime, I found a couple of chicks by the side of the road. They had fallen out of a hole in an HGV transporting them somewhere and the lorry was gone. so, I scooped them up and popped them in a tissue box that a bloke in a Transit gave me and took them home. They are now in an animal transporter box, complete with straw bedding, chick crumbs and water and sitting besides me loudly chirping as I type. The thing is, I have no idea how old they are and, whilst we have the right food for them, I need to know how to take care of the little tykes until they are old enough to join our two hens in their run. I also need to know how to find out if they are hens or cocks, because I very much doubt that our neighbours are going to want us having two cocks (*snigger*) in the garden. So, can anyone tell me how old commercially shipped chicks are roughly. Also, I need to know what I should be doing to keep them alive and growing until they can fend for themselves. Do I need a heat lamp for them? Any special food or vitamins? Any vaccinations? Any other tips or tricks I should know? Help me please!! If they are tiny and yellow still, my best guess would be that they are about 2 days old. You need to keep them warm under a brooder or heat lamp, and provide plenty of food and water. If they are broilers, they will go off their legs after a few months, and die, simply because they are so intensively bred to produce more meat. When they are reared, they give them high energy and high protein food to make them grow quicker, but as long as you have chick crumb, youwill be fine. Hopefully, they survive and live long, but I have to say, I am very doubtful. Good luck mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted June 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 (edited) Tiny and yellow, yes. They are now in my office underneath a lamp with a bowl of chick crumb and another of water. I know the first 24 hours are important, so we are waiting to see what happens in the morning. Fingers crossed. Actually, our neighbour just said that small and yellow means males normally. True? Edited June 29, 2010 by Wookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 Actually, our neighbour just said that small and yellow means males normally. True? Not true I am afraid, they are all small and yellow at that age. I will have to get in touch with a mate of mine about sexing them though, he can do it at 2 days old, but I am just clueless. Keep us updated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 Make sure they can't drown or get themselves too wet in the water as they will drown/chill themselves rapidly. In this warm weather they will probably be fine even if they have been on the road for sometime, you can tell if they are too cold, as they will sit in the warmest part of the box, and viceversa if they are too cold/trying to escape. Lethargy is a bad sign as it could be a sign of too hot, too cold, or illness but sounds like its not a problem. Good luck with them, certainly sounds as if they are day olds. Getting a heatlamp is a good idea, but since it doesn't sound like you're going to make a habit of doing this, I probably wouldn't bother. A regular lamp, or warm place will in all likelihood suffice. How do you know they fell out of the HGV? I've only ever seen them transported boxed up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted June 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 I saw them fall out of the gap that the hydraulic lift has between the ramp and the actual body of the load area. When I first saw the truck, at least a half a dozen managed to work their way out whilst I was helping collect chicks. The two I have were from further up the road. The driver plugged the gap with blue bog roll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gobfish Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 We used to stick a 40w bulb in the top of a cardboard box, just make sure they can't reach it n burn themselves, don't know about these eco friendly bulbs though... sadly if they were running around in the road and you have not kept them warm n draught free since I don't hold out much hope for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 You dont want to stick them with your existing hens Wookie until they're around 15 weeks old cos they'll get bullied to death.Provided you keep them warm and they're eating/drinking i cant see why they wont survive. With regard to sexing-normally the bright yellow ones are males and the buff coloured ones are female.Not always true granted because there are umpteeth different breed,but is generally the accepted sexing method.If the lorry was enroute to a battery hen factory,im guessing your chicks will be hens as the cocks are normally gassed soon after sexing then bagged for the tropical pet industry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hushpower Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 boil some pebles up to sterilise and place them in the water,to stop them drowning/ geting a soaking then getting chilled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted June 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2010 Well, they survived the night and seemed quite happy this morning too. So we've topped up the chick crumbs and given them fresh water and I will be checking on them at lunchtime. This rearing lark is quite stressful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted July 1, 2010 Report Share Posted July 1, 2010 I'd say that they where both hens, out of the fact that they'd very, very rarely bother paying to transport live cocks (which are useless in the industry). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted July 1, 2010 Report Share Posted July 1, 2010 I'd say that they where both hens, out of the fact that they'd very, very rarely bother paying to transport live cocks (which are useless in the industry). Could be broilers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted July 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 They are certainly growing quite fast. Both are still very much alive by the way and looking very lively. Broilers or layers... We'll still keep them and give them a good life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted July 2, 2010 Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 You will know whether they are broilers (my thought) or layers when they start to develop feathers. They will have white feathers, whereas battery hens Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted July 2, 2010 Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 Well done on giving them a chance. Im relatively new to keeping chickens, but at that age, water, food and warmth and thats about the best you can do. Dont mix them with your others as has already been said. I have read its very difficult to sex the birds at an early age, unless your an expert. You've got a lucy dip! I am amazed at how much water mine get through, especially in this warmner weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatingisbest Posted July 2, 2010 Report Share Posted July 2, 2010 (edited) To sex them at a young age, stretch out the wing, look at the primary flight feathers (will be at the quill stage). If they are cock birds the ends of the quills will be level all the way along, the hens will be staggered so one will be longer then the one next to it will be shorter, the one after that will be longer etc. Its not 100% effective apparently but its always worked for me. Edited July 2, 2010 by beatingisbest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted July 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 Both have survived the weekend, including a couple of trips out to the lawn for a scratch around. They are still growing and getting more and more confident too, so we have to watch them every second they are out. Ok, feathers are coming through on both the tail and the wings and they are pretty much white, so there is a chance that they are broilers, but one definitely has a ginger tinge, and I think some of the wing feathers are showing signs of light brown. We shall see... More updates and photos soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSS Posted July 5, 2010 Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 Glad to hear they are getting on well, looking forward to the next update Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lord_seagrave Posted July 7, 2010 Report Share Posted July 7, 2010 I love these fluffy animal husbandry threads. Top marks Wookie, and looking forward to cute liddle photos. :blink: LS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tikka tom Posted July 11, 2010 Report Share Posted July 11, 2010 Today on the way back from work at lunchtime, I found a couple of chicks by the side of the road. They had fallen out of a hole in an HGV transporting them somewhere and the lorry was gone. so, I scooped them up and popped them in a tissue box that a bloke in a Transit gave me and took them home. They are now in an animal transporter box, complete with straw bedding, chick crumbs and water and sitting besides me loudly chirping as I type. The thing is, I have no idea how old they are and, whilst we have the right food for them, I need to know how to take care of the little tykes until they are old enough to join our two hens in their run. I also need to know how to find out if they are hens or cocks, because I very much doubt that our neighbours are going to want us having two cocks (*snigger*) in the garden. So, can anyone tell me how old commercially shipped chicks are roughly. Also, I need to know what I should be doing to keep them alive and growing until they can fend for themselves. Do I need a heat lamp for them? Any special food or vitamins? Any vaccinations? Any other tips or tricks I should know? Help me please!! your carnt relly tell if its a cock or a hen untill a bout 3-4 week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troosers Too Posted August 31, 2010 Report Share Posted August 31, 2010 Well....What happened then? TT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted September 2, 2010 Report Share Posted September 2, 2010 Well....What happened then? TT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essex Keeper Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 how they gettin on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted September 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 Well, they are now pretty much fully grown and are tame as anything. One of them likes to perch on my shoulder and is happy there for hours. However, whenever they get near the older chickens, they get pecked to ****, especially by the brown hen. We've tried separating out the bully and, whilst she was away, the remaining hen got on fine with them. As soon as she came back in, it started again. As much as we would love to keep them, it looks like we are going to have to re-home them so that then can get a decent life. Our hens just will not let them have that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 Well, they are now pretty much fully grown and are tame as anything. One of them likes to perch on my shoulder and is happy there for hours. However, whenever they get near the older chickens, they get pecked to ****, especially by the brown hen. We've tried separating out the bully and, whilst she was away, the remaining hen got on fine with them. As soon as she came back in, it started again. As much as we would love to keep them, it looks like we are going to have to re-home them so that then can get a decent life. Our hens just will not let them have that. Chickens can be terrible bullies Wookie and there will always be a degree of argy bargy because you dont have a Cockerel.They are the only thing which bring harmony to a hen house,but unfortunately they're also noisy ****.I bought two more hens a while back and they like yours have been the subject of a bullying,but they do all settle down eventually and the only time it gets a bit heated is if i give them spaghetti because they go nuts for it. Have you tried fitting bumper bits? If you put them on the main bully you might find they'll all calm down as the ringleader winds the others up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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