We have six 2+ week old chicks living in a large dog crate/brooder in our house (2 buff orpington, 2 barred rock, 1 RIR, 1 leghorn).
My husband came home from work to find the cage door open, our 90 pound lab IN the crate (we are still not clear how this happened!) and wet, dead-looking chicks lying akinbo. So scary!
After inspection, it appeared that the chicks were indeed alive but very, very WET as they had been licked and slobbered all over. I put them on my lap and blew them dry with a hairdryer and put them back under the heat lamp, encouraging them to drink some water. We weren't very hopeful about 2 or 3 of them, as they were incredibly weak and limp, yet breathing.
End of story - we woke up the next day to six HEALTHY, dry chicks!!! Unbelievable. My new question is...how do I make them less skittish after such chaotic event? The rocks are pretty brave still, but the others want nothing to do with us anymore.
My husband came home from work to find the cage door open, our 90 pound lab IN the crate (we are still not clear how this happened!) and wet, dead-looking chicks lying akinbo. So scary!
After inspection, it appeared that the chicks were indeed alive but very, very WET as they had been licked and slobbered all over. I put them on my lap and blew them dry with a hairdryer and put them back under the heat lamp, encouraging them to drink some water. We weren't very hopeful about 2 or 3 of them, as they were incredibly weak and limp, yet breathing.
End of story - we woke up the next day to six HEALTHY, dry chicks!!! Unbelievable. My new question is...how do I make them less skittish after such chaotic event? The rocks are pretty brave still, but the others want nothing to do with us anymore.
