fuzzi's Chicken Journal

[Winderdear]

Chick didn't make it. I found it in the back of the brooder, buried in straw.

I wish I could have done more.

I’m so sorry, fuzzi.

So sad to lose a little one. But, you tried to help, and that’s all anyone can do.

 

[fuzzi]

I’m so sorry, fuzzi.

So sad to lose a little one. But, you tried to help, and that’s all anyone can do.

Thank you. I'm wondering if it just "failed to thrive". It felt a little bony.

I recall that I was able to help LC, and see how big he is now!

Blue's on the left, LC in the middle facing away.

Blue's comb isn't as bright red as the others.

If I have any doubts I will not take blue to the auction in June. I just need to unload 2-3 cockerels for the flock's sanity. And mine.

 

[fuzzi]

 

[1muttsfan]

I've had SS boys sneak in under the radar until they were surprisingly old

 

[fuzzi]

I've had SS boys sneak in under the radar until they were surprisingly old

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Chick didn't make it. I found it in the back of the brooder, buried in straw.

I wish I could have done more.

So sorry about the chick
Some do fail for some reason or another, you did the best you could.

@Winderdear I like to watch her, she has some interesting thoughts/tips on chicken keeping. I had not seen this one, couldn't hurt!

Oh no! I hope her chick gets better soon!

I don’t know if there’s any science to back this, but I used the slurry in the video below on my day old chicks last year when they arrived and looked like they needed some extra nutrition. It didn’t do them any harm at least, and they all perked up quickly. I did not have the homeopathic flower remedy she mentions, but she said that was optional. The recipe contains raw egg yolk, electrolyte powder and weak green tea.

I can’t seem to timestamp it, but the recipe was at 3:14.

 

[fuzzi]

Had a scare today. I got home from work later than usual (meeting) and headed out to the coop. Tamar and two chicks, check. Rahab and ...3 chicks?!? I started to panic, not again! The waterer was gummed up so I quickly rinsed out the straw, filled the jar and returned it to the brooder. Rahab and 3 chicks ran over to drink, but I still didn't see the 4th chick. Then I heard a faint cheeping, so I walked around the back of the brooder to see if I could locate the source. Behind the brooder I saw some light brown fluff, and found the chick. It had wriggled over a wood board at the back and gotten stuck, its head caught between the bars of a refrigerator rack I had used as a barrier.

I removed the rack, supporting the chick so it wouldn't hang by its head. I had to gently turn the chick sidewalk to slide its head free. Whew. It appeared okay, ran back to momma.

I recall when one of the Dominiques was a chick she got stuck upside-down for who knows how long. After I rescued her she was subdued for a day, then went wide-open!

They're so fragile, yet so tough.

 

[fuzzi]

It happened again... when I got home Rahab only had three chicks, the yellow one had gotten out of the back of the brooder. Thankfully it was just trapped between the board and the rack.

So I went to work.

Before:

There were refrigerator racks leaning against a 6" board. It was successful at keeping adult chickens from getting in, but failed at keeping chicks from getting OUT.

I took a piece of hardware cloth just large enough to cover the opening and zip-tied it to the mesh.

Then I took a shorter but longer piece of HWC and secured the base, wrapping it around the corners.

And added the board. And racks.

Inside view:

If a chick can escape through the back now, I'll name it Houdini!

 

[1muttsfan]

 

[1muttsfan]

Hatch day here, one out and two pipped