Upon entering the coop this morning I discovered that the electricty had gone out sometime during the night or early morning and of course it was on our coldest night ever, low 40s. I rush to bin of 60 assorted baby chicks and everyone but one is running around and chirping loudly - both for food and because their two lights were out.
There was one poor "dead" chick on bottom of brooder and of course it was getting trampled over. Once I discovered why the electricty was off (seems someone must have stepped on the power strip and turned it off) I got the heat and lights and heater back on and proceeded to remove the dead chick from the bin.
It's body was very cold but not stiff. I just thought rigormortis must not have set in yet. I put the dead chick in my pocket while I proceeded to get everyone cared for.
I brought the chick inside to examine it and make sure it was really dead before disposing of it. I thought I felt movement but couldn't be sure. I opened its eye and it was still bright, not clouded over. But the chick was cold and lifeless and not moving and I could not see any sign of breathing.
I spent 30 minutes holding the chick up to the blowers on our new pellet stove - all the while rubbing its body and moving its head and wings and legs. After half an hour, I began to feel movement when I pulled on its legs, they pulled back. Still I'm thinking death throws.
Something in me just couldn't or wouldn't give up. I prayed continuously for the little chick. Then I heard it.........twittering sounds. Still no movement, no nothing, but twittering.
It took over 45 minutes but finally it opened its eyes and started to sit up. It is now eating and drinking and running around in a brooder in the house that already had 4 little chicks with special needs in it. My DH calls it the hospital room. One chick was weak but now better and the other had a twisted neck and would flop over and spin around but now its better and the other two little ones were put in there to keep them company.
I'm not sure what breed this little chick is. It has the top hat like the Polish that came in the assortment of chicks but it has the extra toes. I had another one like this but it died after the first few days. Was very weak and despite being in the hospital brooder just finally died about the time I thought it was strong and eating on its own.
I truly can't believe that this little guy warmed up thawed out and lived. Thank you Lord.
I now need a special name for this little chick - something like Lazarus.
There was one poor "dead" chick on bottom of brooder and of course it was getting trampled over. Once I discovered why the electricty was off (seems someone must have stepped on the power strip and turned it off) I got the heat and lights and heater back on and proceeded to remove the dead chick from the bin.
It's body was very cold but not stiff. I just thought rigormortis must not have set in yet. I put the dead chick in my pocket while I proceeded to get everyone cared for.
I brought the chick inside to examine it and make sure it was really dead before disposing of it. I thought I felt movement but couldn't be sure. I opened its eye and it was still bright, not clouded over. But the chick was cold and lifeless and not moving and I could not see any sign of breathing.
I spent 30 minutes holding the chick up to the blowers on our new pellet stove - all the while rubbing its body and moving its head and wings and legs. After half an hour, I began to feel movement when I pulled on its legs, they pulled back. Still I'm thinking death throws.
Something in me just couldn't or wouldn't give up. I prayed continuously for the little chick. Then I heard it.........twittering sounds. Still no movement, no nothing, but twittering.
It took over 45 minutes but finally it opened its eyes and started to sit up. It is now eating and drinking and running around in a brooder in the house that already had 4 little chicks with special needs in it. My DH calls it the hospital room. One chick was weak but now better and the other had a twisted neck and would flop over and spin around but now its better and the other two little ones were put in there to keep them company.
I'm not sure what breed this little chick is. It has the top hat like the Polish that came in the assortment of chicks but it has the extra toes. I had another one like this but it died after the first few days. Was very weak and despite being in the hospital brooder just finally died about the time I thought it was strong and eating on its own.
I truly can't believe that this little guy warmed up thawed out and lived. Thank you Lord.
I now need a special name for this little chick - something like Lazarus.
