Drowning ~ 6 wk. old Bantie Roo

[CK Chickadilly]

I hope I am posting this in the right area....it is a mama Bantie behavior....

My cutest little baby bantie roo was found dead floating in the horses water tank this evening. They are 6 wks. old & the mama Bantie had taught them how to drink out of the big tanks, even though I have a lot of little chickie waterers all about. I have lost 2 others a couple of weeks ago this same way!

My Silkie/Cochin crosses, I raised myself & I have never seen them up on any of the water tanks. I haven't lost any of them. They drink out of puddles or the chick watering things.

I am so bummed!

Can't take away the horse & goat water!

 

[Shared Acres]

ooooh, I feel for ya!

Is there any way to put some mesh around it so she can't get to it but the other animals can?

 

[CK Chickadilly]

That is a great idea, however, the horses & goats are very curious about everything & if I did put something around the edge, they would just rip it off....UGH! Naughty horses & goats!

 

[MariposaMama]

I put a cement cinderblock in the sheep's water so if the chicks fell in they had something to climb onto to help them get out. I tried to keep the water level so that just the top of the block stayed dry. One evening, one of the chicks was soaking wet, so it must have worked.

 

[newchicks]

I agree, It may require more than one cinder block if you have a large tank, but that's a great idea.

 

[swtangel321]

awwww, poor baby !!!! Sorry !!!! My dog killed a few of mine last week, I understand how you feel!!!!!!

 

[Attack Chicken]

so sorry for ya

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I lost 1 chick and 3 ducks from that this year. Im so sorry.

 

[Godsgrl]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your little roo. We lost a chick to drowning as well this year, it's really tough. You could try putting a sheet of wire, like hardware cloth down in the water. The horses could push it down to drink, and the chickens could get purchase if they fall in. Just a thought.

 

[CK Chickadilly]

A friend stopped by today & she suggested putting a large piece of wood in the tanks so if a chickie falls in the wood floats & they hop on the wood & can get out. That is what they used to do & she said it worked. So I am trying that plus having the tanks filled to the top.

Cinder blocks sound like a great idea too.

I have lost 3 from the same batch now to drownings. Makes ya feel so bad!