So I picked up my two new Red Bourbon hatchlings on Friday. They were adorable and looked healthy and everything was good. Later that afternoon, I went to check on them and one of them had a feather (about an inch long) stuck in her throat! I pulled it out very gently, showed her again what was food and what was water. I tucked her and the rest of my babies in for the night and went to bed. Of course last night was sooo cold! I made sure that I closed the Hen-House window and that the heat lamp was on in the brooder (a 20 gallon aquarium). Today was Mothers Day, so I hung around inside for while, cooked breakfast and finally got dressed to go feed and water everyone. Much to my horror, the heat lamp had gone out! I looked inside the brooder and one of my babies was completely motionless. I fixed the heat lamp and picked up the life-less body of my baby. She was ice cold and stiff. I laid her on top of a shelf for a minute while I busied myself with other things. All of a sudden, my son said, MOM! she moved her mouth! I expected that it really had not moved but I looked at her and lo and behold, she WAS breathing! I scooped her up and cupped her in my hands and blew warm breath into my hands. I gently rubbed her and then p[ut her right under the heat lamp. She did not look good. I stayed with her for about an hour, then deciding that there was nothing else I could do, I went inside to do some housework. At 4:00, I went to go and check on her and much to my surise, the little girl actually had her eyes open and she was sitting up!I put a drop of water in her mouth and kind of massaged her a little and put her back under the heat lamp. I guess it is up to her if she is strong enough to make it. I told her that if she makes it, I will keep her forever and that she will never make it to the table. It is a promise that I intend to keep. Please keep your fingers crossed! and if you are religious, please send prayers her way...
Nancy
Nancy
