Concerned about a peachick...

[zazouse]

Well I did warn ya

 

[msmolly]

Well- We've had a rough evening here. I've been snapping pics all day trying to get some good wing shots of Lucy's six chicks, so y'all could help me sex them. But sadly, we went out for dinner and came home to only 5 chicks! This happened last year, where some thing would nab a chick right next to its mother in full daylight. Hawk, cat , don't know. No mess, feathers or anything, just one less chick. My kids and I walked the whole property hoping to find it stranded in a hole, or a bush (we had one fall in a window well the other day). Meanwhile, mother Lucy has decided tonights the night to make the remaining 5 fly up to the 8' high perch(inside the pen) and roost under her there.They are 7 days old. There are a couple roosting ladders they hop up rung by rung, but the final leap is a biggy. Well # 5 is so beat up from all the failed attemps, he now has a gimp leg and a wing down

. In the past, the hen has figured out when the chicks weren't ready to join her, and come down to roost with them another night. But not this year. Its their first attempt at roosting and she wasn't cutting them any slack. She's tough! #3 and 4 only made it because I panicked and dragged in a small tree to add some more steps. # 5 was getting so weak I started assisting him as best I could, but then he would fall back down. He's so weak and hurt now, thought I was going to have to bring him inside and sleep with him (Kathy!). At last my son finally climbed up and tucked him in next to his mother, where she was able to get it clamped under her wing. Don't know if he has the strength to stay there, guessing I'm going to be checking the coop every hour tonight. I'm hoping the wing and leg are not serious, but I may need some help from all of you.The family while it was still intact

 

[new 2 pfowl]

So sorry about your little one...

Hope your worn out fella feels better in the morning.

 

[msmolly]

So sorry about your little one...

Hope your worn out fella feels better in the morning.

Thank you New2! Just went and checked the coop, shining a flashlight up under the Lucy's butt, and there were still 5 little sets of legs, so thats promising!

 

[PlatteRiverPs]

 Well I did warn ya

You did and you were exactly right. Its getting downright ridiculous. We tried a small stuffed animal and it worked for about 90 seconds. I think I may have it fooled. I took a computer chair and set it next to the brooder, he thinks I'm setting next to him. Working good so far.

Nevermind, I hear him. :-(

msmolly, sorry to hear about your youngin'. Same thing happened here last year.

 

[casportpony]

P-Dawg liked going under the covers to cuddle.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Thank you New2! Just went and checked the coop, shining a flashlight up under the Lucy's butt, and there were still 5 little sets of legs, so thats promising!

Always a good thing to see!

-Kathy

 

[msmolly]

Thanks all for your well wishes- hate losing one, but its easier when Mother Nature does it, I guess. Just wish it wasn't one of the three blues.Its the chance I take with free ranging, but I thinks its still worth it. Ask me again after I lose another, and my answer might change. Last year, out of six chicks, we lost two to predators and four survived and went to new homes.

So PlatteRiver- Have you tried the old trick of a Kitchen timer/alarm clock (something that ticks) in a sock? Thats what we used to do for Puppies, ...way back in the ole days. Don't know if it would work for a peachick- so far I have'nt had to sleep with one..... Best of luck

 

[zazouse]

Well- We've had a rough evening here. I've been snapping pics all day trying to get some good wing shots of Lucy's six chicks, so y'all could help me sex them. But sadly, we went out for dinner and came home to only 5 chicks! This happened last year, where some thing would nab a chick right next to its mother in full daylight. Hawk, cat , don't know. No mess, feathers or anything, just one less chick. My kids and I walked the whole property hoping to find it stranded in a hole, or a bush (we had one fall in a window well the other day). Meanwhile, mother Lucy has decided tonights the night to make the remaining 5 fly up to the 8' high perch(inside the pen) and roost under her there.They are 7 days old. There are a couple roosting ladders they hop up rung by rung, but the final leap is a biggy. Well # 5 is so beat up from all the failed attemps, he now has a gimp leg and a wing down

. In the past, the hen has figured out when the chicks weren't ready to join her, and come down to roost with them another night. But not this year. Its their first attempt at roosting and she wasn't cutting them any slack. She's tough! #3 and 4 only made it because I panicked and dragged in a small tree to add some more steps. # 5 was getting so weak I started assisting him as best I could, but then he would fall back down. He's so weak and hurt now, thought I was going to have to bring him inside and sleep with him (Kathy!). At last my son finally climbed up and tucked him in next to his mother, where she was able to get it clamped under her wing. Don't know if he has the strength to stay there, guessing I'm going to be checking the coop every hour tonight. I'm hoping the wing and leg are not serious, but I may need some help from all of you.The family while it was still intact

Beautiful family!
Sorry for your loss... When I loose younguns , it is almost always due to a sneaky snake

 

[msmolly]

Yikes! Do snakes get that big around you ?! Here in the north, I don't see snakes much bigger than my thumb in diameter, and those are just harmless garter or milk snakes. Bigger ones are out there, but the cold winters keeps the cold blooded things down to a civilized Size and number. We do have lots of coon, fox, hawks and of course the ever stealthy house cat to blame for our woes. We are having a serious plague of squirrels lately! What is with that? Is any one else noticing that squirrel numbers are getting scary? And all breeds are showing up together. I realize with the chicken scratch they move in, but lately the population is ridiculous! And, I swear they are cross breeding. I've got some new squirrel hybrids I think. do you suppose some of these bigger squirrels would grab a chick?