The chicks have been hatching for about 24 hours now with not such a good success rate. I didn't realize how many eggs broody hen was sitting on until she got off the nest with two of her chicks, leaving two in the nest box to fend for themselves along with a few dead ones. Many were part way out but didn't quite make it. One little one was part way out but still alive. Yes I know you aren't suppose to help them. Yes I know that if you help them chances are they won't make it but what did I have to lose? So I helped it out of the shell and set it under her on the floor. When I left it was tucked under her wing. But when I went back tonight it was lying cold dead on the floor of the chicken coop. She had left it. I picked it up to throw away when darned if that little bird didn't move. Just barely. So slight I wasn't sure. Sure enough it had a bit of life but was stone cold. So I did what any self-respecting mini farmer does...I stuck it in my bra and went on with my chores. After a few minutes it started to chirp, then a few minutes later it started to kick. I took a peek in and one little eye stared back at me.
Will it live? Probably not. It was on the ground all day today, but I couldn't just do nothing. So now it's in the "green bathroom" under a heat lamp. Hubby said, "Oh you might have saved his life."
Or prolonged his death...we shall see.
So speaking of nest boxes...we were weren't we? Pam and Farm Man over at
Life on a Southern Farm are making and selling wonderful nest boxes right and left and are having a contest to give one away. I want one! My hens want one! They are tired of their hand-me-down recycle bins. Well really they will lay their eggs anywhere so it really boils down to me wanting one.
Bad.
5 comments:
Our Kindergarten teacher used to hatch eggs in a classroom incubator every spring. I did the "wrong" thing and picked more than a few out. There was only one that went horribly wrong but the rest were fine.
So we did it! We got fertilized eggs today to put under our broody hen - Shelly. We'll see how it goes! We've got her in a separate pen now, with her new/improved nest box (a repurposed bin), food, water, a yard area. She couldn't ask for much more... well, except babies. She seems to really want those! So we're gonna try it!
Any update on the little chick? Love that you stuck it in your bra and went on with the chores. The things you do on a farm!
I am so glad to hear I am not the only woman out there that has had a chick in her bra.
Good for you for saving the chick. Good for you.
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