Tuesday, May 18, 2010

An Unpleasant Chicken Day

Yesterday was NOT cool.  We went about two months without a dcent amount of rain.  Jim Howard and Greg Armbrect said we were getting some, but we didn't.  I'll bet Greg Fischal said we were, too.  But very little rain came if any.  Friday we were slated for a 60% chance on Monday, but by Sunday night it had jumped to 90%.  And the rains came.  My garden needed the rain, too.  I was carrying 5 gallon buckets out to water my veggies one at a time.  It's about a quarter acre, so my arms were a bit sore. 

As most of you know I had chicks hatch last week.  Some came Tuesday or Wednesday with more to follow Friday.  I never got an exact number, but I believe it was around 18 or so.  The bantam with the silkie rooster kept losing hers.  She hatched out 8 in total, but they were dying one at a time.  She still had 6 when we left on Friday.  Dustin, our neighbor fed and watered for us.  He's farmer's grandson. We got home late Sunday so the birds were left to sleep.  I didn't have time to check them before work yesterday, but when I got home I changed and went out to see.  It was still raining and all the birds were soaking wet.  The two hens were huddled over their chicks.  But the bantam/silkie only had 3 doing well with one squished in the mud!  It was the last black one.  I had to put it out of it's misery, and I was at the very brink of tears.  I didn't make Mike do it.  And I felt just awful!  Mike did tell me he pulled one dead chick from her that morning, and two from Bucky and China.  So I wrangled up the remaining chicks...three silkie/bantams and six from Bucky and China....nine in total.  I put them in the brooder box with feed, water, and some wheat straw for warmth.  Both hens clucked on calling their chicks, and the chicks peeped quite loudly from the box.  I felt awful for that, as well.  But I felt they would be safer that way.  I do have a heat lamp for them, as well. 

We also had a couple of pigeon squab hatch last week.  I think one of them is dead, too.  Mama was sitting on them and wouldn't let me check.  But I know one is still living.  I could see it moving.  Got another pigeon sitting on two eggs.  Baby pigeons are so UGLY!  Their beaks are way to big!  Glad they are pretty when they grow up. 

I haven't been commenting as much lately.  I've been busy as a bee in a clover field.  But I still pop in to check on each of you.  Just cause I don't say anything doesn't mean I'm not reading!  I'll try to get some pics up in the next day or two.  I have some, but they are still on the camera.  Have a pleasant day, all.

20 comments:

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Oh I'm sorry about your losses, and I really hope the chicks that are left will continue to flourish and be safe! Know that I'm sending positive thoughts in your direction so hopefully they will!!

By the way, I never thanked you for telling me your story on Mother's Day. I really appreciated it, and it meant more than you realize!!

Jim said...

Never knew that raising chickens was so difficult. What do I know.Good luck with the survivors and keep plugging away!

John Going Gently said...

wet chicks never do well do they?

at least you have done the best you could of....

I am lucky as I have 9 broody boxes ( all give aways from an animal sanctury) but I already have had my fill of broody hens!!!!

Chicken Boys said...

John, I can't seem to get my hens to go broody! They get a nest full of eggs, sit for a few days, then abandon. I end up having to throw out all the eggs. I have two buffs I'm trying to get to sit, but they keep eating the eggs! I think they were stepping on and breaking the eggs, thus eating to follow. I've added some soft dirt and wheat straw...so far so good. We've got plenty of brooder boxes. Compliments of Mike's boredom and extra wood.
~Randy

Little Messy Missy said...

Tough week, sorry!

Tracey said...

Ah bless...poor little chicks. Thanks for your comments over the last few days Randy.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.

BadPenny said...

Blogging friends are blogging amazing Randy - thanks for being mine x

Becca's Dirt said...

Sorry to hear about the chicks. That would be hard to put any animal out of its misery. Hope the babies will be fine now that you have separated them. Have a good day Randy.

joanne said...

sounds like a rough week in chicken land...I certainly hope it gets better.

And yes, it is Delilah! love her.

Foothills Poultry said...

sorry you lost so many and then couldn't leave the remaining ones with their mothers.

~~Matt~~

Chickens in the Basement said...

It's so sad when chicks don't make it! Melvin is one tough bird. Good thing, cause I would be crushed if he got hurt!

Cat said...

I am so sorry about the chicks. That is one of the bad parts of dealing with animals... Hope the next few days go better. Buzz, buzz!

Cat

farmlady said...

Oh my gosh! What a week you've had. That's too bad about all those babies. Was it the wet weather? Is this usual for so many to die?
How sad... I'm so sorry.

Anonymous said...

Oh what a shame to have lost so many. My neighbour had 24 eggs in an incubator - 2 hatched, 1 died and the living one has become a sort of house chicken because the others won't accept it. Fine whilst it's little but not exactly practical. I feel a chicken adoption maybe coming on...

Unknown said...

So sorry you lost so many, losing any animal is always hard! I can not get my chickens to lay for nothing right now! They never sit on them and Dominiques are suppose to be broody! I hope the chicks in the brooder do well now they are warm and dry!

Anonymous said...

:( awwww. You can borrow mine...I cannot stop mine getting broody!!

I have an award for you if you want it :) Ames xxxx

Nekkid Chicken said...

Awe It's sad to loose wee little one or a much loved pet. I too continue to read though I have not had much time now, that I've taken on homeschooling. Just busy and observing as I can.

Take care

Nancy K. said...

How depressing! My heart goes out to you for having to deal with so many losses of innocent chicks. I would have taken the remaining chicks away and put them in a brooder as well.

You're a good chicken 'dad'.

;-)

Simply Debbie said...

I AM SO VERY SORRY OF YOUR LOSSES, RANDY.
THAT WOULD BE A TOUGH WEEK. MY COUSIN AND I ALWAYS LOVED TO GO TO GRANDMA'S BECAUSE ONE...MY COUSIN AND I WOULD GET TO SEE EACH OTHER AND GRANDMA HAD A CHICKEN HOUSE. WE FOUND SEVERAL LITTLE BABIES PASSED ON BUT WE WOULD PUT A LITTLE STRAW IN THEIR MOUTH AND TRY TO DO CPR ON THOSE LITTLE CHICKIES....WE WANTED THEM TO LIVE SO.WE HAD THEM ANNOINTED IN ENOUGH COOKING OIL IF THEY HADN'T BEEN DEAD THEY WOULD HAVE DROWNED IN COOKING OIL. WE WOULD THEN HAVE A FUNERAL FOR THEM AND PUT A LITTLE CROSS ON THEIR GRAVE. WE ARE BOTH STILL PRAYING FOR PEOPLE AND ANIMALS TO LIVE. WE USE TO LOVE TO EAT FRIED CHICKEN AT GRANDMA'S UNTIL WE FOUND OUT SHE WOULD WRING THE NECK OF THE CHICKEN, CHOP OFF ITS HEAD, PLUCK THE FEATHERS AND THAT SOME OF THAT FRIED CHICKEN WERE CHICKIES THAT GRANDDAD BOUGHT FROM US FOR 50 CENTS, SAYING HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF OUR CHICKENS....OH, THEY DID ALRIGHT....BUT TO THIS DAY FRIED CHICKEN IS MY FAVORITE MEAL BUT I COULDN'T HAVE CHICKENS....I WOULD HAVE THEM NAMED AND THEY WOULD BE PART OF THE FAMILY....NOW IF THEY WERE JUST FOR LAYING EGGS, IT WOULD BE OKAY.
WE HAVE HAD LOTS OF RAIN. DADDY'S GARDEN IS UNDER WATER AND HE WORKS HOURS ON IT. WE LOST POWER FOR AN HOUR THIS MORNING.
I PRAY THINGS WILL IMPROVE FOR YOU.
HUGS
SIMPLY DEBBIE

LemonyRenee' said...

Aww, Randy. I'm so sorry. What a lot of sadness. I hope they all begin growing and strengthening quickly. Baby pigeons are so ugly, they're cute. ;) My Lester finally gave up on her two eggs. (She's a spinster, ya know.) She laid them in my son's poinsettia that is on the brink of death. (My son can never bear to see them thrown out after Christmas, so he ends up with several -- mostly from church.) Imagine a broody spinster mourning dove taking up residence in the pot of a crunchy old poinsettia and you pretty much have my life. ;) Hang in there, Randy.