5 week olds and tornado sirens

[IndylawPaul]

So I took my 5 week olds outside for their morning constitutional; a 30min scratch, flap and prove-your-the-boss fest in the backyard. Some time out of the brooders is good for them and will get them in the free ranging spirit. But I forget they test our tornado sirens on friday, and one is about a half a block from my house. For those not in Tornado Alley, those things are rock concert loud and start with no warning. Turns out all my chicks can get out of my yard by running between picket fence panels, and I'm chasing 5 frightened pullets down my driveway.

 

[hennypenny99]

LOL! Oh no, I hope you caught them!

 

[theoldchick]

Yikes! Those poor chicks! Probably thought a dinosaur had arrived to eat them!

 

[Lifesong Farm]

I am sorry I shouldn't laugh but the picture I have in my head is so funny.

Hope you caught them all. You might want to make a note about putting up chicken wire around the bottom of your fence till they get older. Lol

 

[Wildflower_VA]

My baby chicks spent their first two weeks in my kitchen. I still remember the chaos that was caused by each new sound, like the timer going off on the microwave and the first strong thunderstorm. None of those sounds are close to a tornado siren! Those poor chicks! Poor you trying to round them up!

 

[cbrown86]

Poor chicks! I feel you about tornado alley! My chicks and ducks hate airplanes and jets. We live about a mile from an airport and every time one flies overhead, they all freeze and cock their heads sideways until it is gone. Cracks me up.

 

[schellie69]

I live in Kansas I understand the noise my poor hens still freeze when they sound. I had to laugh at the picture your story painted. I hope you and the chicks are all okay and you caught them without to much trouble.

 

[IndylawPaul]

They are all fine, and in retrospect it was very funny. But at the time it was all curse words and panicked herding.

The key is to flank them

 

[rcentner]

so what do you do in a tornado? do you have a plan for the chickens? just wondering (and very glad to have snow over tornados)

 

[IndylawPaul]

The chances of them dying in a tornado are slim, my dogs are a much more real concern. But I plan to put them in a dog crate in my basement for the 1-2 really severe storms we have a year. Indiana weather doesn't play around.