Really? Why do we think they are so fragile?

Well said.

Coddling animals doesn't do the individual or the breed any good.

 

I agree wholeheartedly. Same goes for human children!

 

Aubrey? Are you asking for a little common sense? You rebel!

I love animals more than I love people...BUT that doesn't mean I kill my animals with kindness. We take a "they were designed for it" approach with our animals.

Its like our own immune systems...use it or lose it. Same goes for raising healthy, strong animals and agreed, kids too. We don't use any heat lamps with our adult chickens, we don't over blanket our horses, our dogs are outside all day long, etc.

Just like humans weren't meant to sit at a desk all day, we were designed for movement. And now look at the state of health in this country and most developed countries. Killing ourselves with ease, convenience and comfort. We shouldn't do the same to our animals.

 

I think this is a good reminder! I know that I do tend to "baby" my animals, but in reality it really isn't good for them. Thanks for the post!

 

My idea of a brooder is plugging the heat lamp in the bathroom of the machine shop, close the toilette lid, and food and water, then let the chicks go with play sand for litter (It gets tilled into the garden for firtelizer after.), never had a problem. If they get too hot they go to the other side of the bathroom. A one week old chick a week or so snuck out of the bathroom at night without me knowing it, and the shop is unheated and the temps at night dipped to the high 30's and I went out there the next morning and it was by the bathroom door sleeping, when it saw me it was then he noticed he was hungry and cold and started chirping loudly to be let in.
I too was suprised at how hardy they were. You grow up hearing stories about them and other baby animals being helpless, and ya freak at first if everything is not just right, then ya wisen up and ya got a lot less work to do and happier birds in then end. Nice post OP.

 

I totally agree! I think the people that are so worried are people who have never had chicks before. I know at first I was overly concerned about them primarily because I did not want to be responsible for killing them by not doing what I should. I got my 5th set of chicks last september -18 of them. They were outside in a small house at night with no heat in the 40's. There were 18 of them. They cuddled for warmth. No one died or had any horrible diseases

 

Thanks for posting this it has confirmed my suspicions and helps me not feel like a bad flock owner. I have been a flock owner for 3 days and was wondering the same thing you said about the hardiness of chickens vs the over dramatic posts and books I have read.

Very helpful.

 

i worry bc its my first ever chicks and i dont want to kill them. common sense only gets one so far with a new experience. i still hope i dont kill them, so far so good!

 

Most folks are just worried about the little baby chicks. Trust me, when they hit that ugly teenaged phase everyone will realize how tough they are. I can see coddling those day old cuties. But after thet first week you can stop worrying.