My husband and I started with four very chubby, happy red pullets (Isa Browns) so we decided to get four EE's. We got the Reds from TSC and they are in great shape so far... the second "chick days" in our area was being held at another feed type store. We found out when they were getting their shipment and was told they will be at one location to view a day before the chicks would be split between the other four locations. The location closest to us was not going to get their chicks until Friday and EE's go fast 'round these parts. The location near us said we should go to the main one and look on Thursday.
This location was smaller than ours and I was so upset at the condition of these poor baby chicks. A good 50 of them were in wooden crates 2X2 at best. There was no food or water and the chicks were running each other over. In the middle of it all, I found a poor wobbly little EE pullet with her feathers plastered against her tiny body from the wet bedding. I felt so upset to see this.
She did not look very big, almost bantam size to me. We pointed out the crates were all empty with water and food and mentioned our concern about the conditions. The employees looked at me like I was crazy. We pointed out this poor little chick to the manager and she said to put her in the bin with the badly pecked turkey baby. My husband and I went back to see that bin and there were about 50 more chicks with that poor baby turkey in a plastic tub.
I had to buy her as the store didn't even seem to care she was in such bad shape. I told my husband it was worth paying $2 for her even if I could give her a clean, warm brooder for as long as I could. She did take a drink and a few pecks at the crumbles in her new warm dry brooder and survived the night. I was very cautious about the success and hoped for the best.
She was not looking so great when I got home from work yesterday. She would not eat or drink. Her brooder EE companion was busy picking at her tiny little wings. I took her out and put droplets of water on my fingers. She would take the droplets under duress. All she wanted to do was just sleep in my warm hands wrapped up in my nightshirt.
I was getting so sleepy by 2am, we rigged up a special box for her with a heating pad and put her back in the brooder room. I checked on her at 4:30 and she was still breathing. When I checked in on her at 7:30 am, she had gone to chick heaven.
This was sad and I can't say I didn't ask for this sadness. It is sort of bittersweet really. We have seven other healthy chubby chicks all needing our love and in memory of Pee Wee, we went to that store and rescued another EE, this one is white. Pee Wee is resting near my favorite Peony bush in a very warm, sunny part of my yard.
I know there will be other hard times, I sure hope not...but I am realistic about it all. They are and have become my babies and I will do my best to care for them and protect them just like their real mom would.
Thanks for listening.
RIP Pee Wee (on the left).
This location was smaller than ours and I was so upset at the condition of these poor baby chicks. A good 50 of them were in wooden crates 2X2 at best. There was no food or water and the chicks were running each other over. In the middle of it all, I found a poor wobbly little EE pullet with her feathers plastered against her tiny body from the wet bedding. I felt so upset to see this.
She did not look very big, almost bantam size to me. We pointed out the crates were all empty with water and food and mentioned our concern about the conditions. The employees looked at me like I was crazy. We pointed out this poor little chick to the manager and she said to put her in the bin with the badly pecked turkey baby. My husband and I went back to see that bin and there were about 50 more chicks with that poor baby turkey in a plastic tub.
I had to buy her as the store didn't even seem to care she was in such bad shape. I told my husband it was worth paying $2 for her even if I could give her a clean, warm brooder for as long as I could. She did take a drink and a few pecks at the crumbles in her new warm dry brooder and survived the night. I was very cautious about the success and hoped for the best.
She was not looking so great when I got home from work yesterday. She would not eat or drink. Her brooder EE companion was busy picking at her tiny little wings. I took her out and put droplets of water on my fingers. She would take the droplets under duress. All she wanted to do was just sleep in my warm hands wrapped up in my nightshirt.
I was getting so sleepy by 2am, we rigged up a special box for her with a heating pad and put her back in the brooder room. I checked on her at 4:30 and she was still breathing. When I checked in on her at 7:30 am, she had gone to chick heaven.
This was sad and I can't say I didn't ask for this sadness. It is sort of bittersweet really. We have seven other healthy chubby chicks all needing our love and in memory of Pee Wee, we went to that store and rescued another EE, this one is white. Pee Wee is resting near my favorite Peony bush in a very warm, sunny part of my yard.
I know there will be other hard times, I sure hope not...but I am realistic about it all. They are and have become my babies and I will do my best to care for them and protect them just like their real mom would.
Thanks for listening.
RIP Pee Wee (on the left).
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if you saw the photo my husband took of the darling little castaway, you may be like me and going through an entire box of tissues!
