My Cornish X experiment

[JacobH]

I'm sorry. That's been exactly my fear, and why I've kept them in the tractor. We don't have dogs, so predators are common. I know the dynamics as well. It's hard to lose any animals you've cared for.

 

[duluthralphie]

I'm sorry. That's been exactly my fear, and why I've kept them in the tractor. We don't have dogs, so predators are common. I know the dynamics as well. It's hard to lose any animals you've cared for.

I refuse to be terrorized!!!


I am just kicking myself for not leaving the dogs out earlier...

 

[JessicaThistle]

I am nearly in tears, I lost 6 chicks to a predator this morning. I feel like I could cry. I am so sad. I know there is a weird dynamics at play here. I know I will be killing them and eating them in a month. BUT I love my chicks.

This predator will not be back. I am going to drag his carcass out in the woods as a warning to others!

When I came outside it was so weird, There was not a chicken, turkey or guinea to be found. They were all hiding. Even the guinea were in my shed, and they do not like the building at all.

For some reason I did not let my dogs out as early as I normally do. DUMB ME!

That is terrible duluth!! I am so sorry.

Your comment about killing them in a few weeks but you love them.... I totally get that! You care enough to raise them happy, healthy and with love and you lost your investment today. Two reason that predators suck!

 

[duluthralphie]

All is better. The little fellows must have been hiding, tonight we counted 23! They are hard to count.

Everything was so shook up by the "visitor" they were in hiding. When I first helped it into predator heaven I could not even find a bird, they had hid so well. I am guessing as the day went on they came out.

I feel so much better knowing I got him on the first bird......

Here is a picture them tonight during chicken TV time. This was their first time coming out with the big birds!

The picture is them with Brutus my head honcho rooster: I posted on another thread, but you can never see too many pictures of babies!

 

[JacobH]

So good to hear! I normally count twice, and as long as I'm close I say whatever. Too hard to keep track of the crazies.

It's been over 100 for almost a week, and they're feeling it. Been spraying a corner of the tractor with cold water daily and they roll in the mud. Also got them a pan of cold water to stand in, and they love that too. Hopefully we can get some rain this week. Haven't had any since I got these chicks! 4-5 weeks. Gah.

 

[duluthralphie]

We got over 2 inches last night. It was great it cleaned everything up. The poop in the yard disappeared.

It is hard to count them! So much different than my last bunch, which just laid their and never moved.

 

[LindaB220]

We got over 2 inches last night. It was great it cleaned everything up. The poop in the yard disappeared.

It is hard to count them! So much different than my last bunch, which just laid their and never moved.

Yea!!! I love happy endings, don't you?

 

[duluthralphie]

I moved the babies today. They are not Free range for the next few days. I have to leave for a few days and I do not want Freddy Fox or Herman Skunk visiting them while I am gone. I have lots of junk and things for them to hide under incase a flying threat appears.

They found a ant hill and immediately went to work on it. YUMMY Fresh ants!!!

 

[JacobH]

Digging that setup. Ours got to play redneck water park with my daughter yesterday. Just let the hose run all over the yard. She played with them in the mud and they had a blast splashing around.

 

[duluthralphie]

Digging that setup. Ours got to play redneck water park with my daughter yesterday. Just let the hose run all over the yard. She played with them in the mud and they had a blast splashing around.

Thanks.. I love having that junk for them to play on. The Zoning office does not like it so much. I claim it is farm equipment. My birds prefer the "stream" from the running hose to their clean waterers. I let the hose run down the driveway (sand/dirt) and let it make a small stream, they all play and splash and eat/peck at it. Many times I mix the "stream" with food at "Chicken TV time".