mustangrooster
Songster
This is a bit of ramble, because i know people would be smarter than me in regards to this. I just really need to get the image out of my head.
My newest of chicks hatched was a total of 10. Now its 8, i lost one because it was a very sticky chick who ruptured its yolk sac. I lost my other one just now.
I figured the chicks could get some sunlight and see the other chicks through the safety of their brooder, so that’s what i did. It was warm out, so i left them , and went to do a big session of groundwork with my horse.
I checked on the chicks as soon as possible…….what I saw horrified me. There was blood everywhere, a dear innocent chick had its head stuck in the door, I don’t know how it did it…..and it looked like it was eaten alive, pecked to death, by my older chicks (Around 6-7 weeks old-12 of them)
I wedged its head free, examined it, and saw only the remains of the eye sockets and beak left. I feel SO horrible. There is blood in the brooder as well. I would have kicked myself even harder if it was my silkie or frizzle.
The 6-7 week old chicks are as calm as daylight, I wouldn’t expect them to eat/kill a little chick. But I know that can happen. Curiosity gets the best of them.
Lesson learnt
My newest of chicks hatched was a total of 10. Now its 8, i lost one because it was a very sticky chick who ruptured its yolk sac. I lost my other one just now.
I figured the chicks could get some sunlight and see the other chicks through the safety of their brooder, so that’s what i did. It was warm out, so i left them , and went to do a big session of groundwork with my horse.
I checked on the chicks as soon as possible…….what I saw horrified me. There was blood everywhere, a dear innocent chick had its head stuck in the door, I don’t know how it did it…..and it looked like it was eaten alive, pecked to death, by my older chicks (Around 6-7 weeks old-12 of them)
I wedged its head free, examined it, and saw only the remains of the eye sockets and beak left. I feel SO horrible. There is blood in the brooder as well. I would have kicked myself even harder if it was my silkie or frizzle.
The 6-7 week old chicks are as calm as daylight, I wouldn’t expect them to eat/kill a little chick. But I know that can happen. Curiosity gets the best of them.
Lesson learnt