Highs and lows of chicken keeping
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 12:58 pm
Blackbeard had hidden herself under the shed for 3 weeks and emerged yesterday with 6 beautiful chicks in tow. Shes skittish one so catching her isn't an option. This morning, still dark, I hear a commotion. Throw on my sneakers with my housecoat and head to the coop with phone as a flashlight. I didnt see anything but a suspicious pile of black feathers. Oh no. I follow the cheeping to a single black chick hallway across the yard and his legs are wrong, flopping with his little wings. I take him into the house to make him comfortable as possible. Daylight I head back down to let the rest if the ladies out...another tiny black chick running amok between the adults. Catch him too. Head towards the other coop and a huddle of 3 chicks. Total 5 of 6 recovered and still no sign of mama. Rig up the electric blanket with a washtub and food and water. What to do with 5 chicks and no brooder set up? Post on FB! Hooray someone has a brooder set up with 2 other chicks that were rejected. Head back to the barn for one last look...there, over by the horse shelter, being protected by wonderful old Speckles is the last chick. Speckles has her own that are 4 weeks old but she sure was interested. Ah well...they are going to a home that will enjoy them. I however have lost my most proficient layer (if I judge for the 75 % black chicks I had this year -lol). Such are the trials and tribulations of chicken keeping.
So glad her chicks were (mostly) spared, small miracles! Mama must have made them scatter and take cover. 