I raised ten cheap chicks, bought from a farmer for $1 each. They thrived. But, I have gotten chicks and older chickens, paid more money, and they just don't live. For $1.99 these should live!
Tonight, there was major cheeping. Finally, I went in to see how much pine shavings they had kicked into their water. They do that. Then, they cannot drink and let me know about it. Yes, they are babies who know what they want.
When I went into the bathroom where they live, I was so shocked to find a baby stuck in the food dish, a pimiento jar. Its head, wings and feet were up and it was folded into the dish. I screamed so the neighbors probably heard and yanked the baby out. It was alive, very much alive. But, it died.
Don't fuss about the food bowl. Chicks get in the little feeders and get stuck all the time. There is just no foolproof way to keep them from getting stuck somewhere. I would have sooner thought that one would drown even though I keep very little water in the dish. I need to go get a rock to put in there. But, then they would just stand on the rock and poop in the water!
These chicks are so funny. They peck me when I put my hand in their box.
I am sorry that this batch of chickens think they are lemmings. And laugh at their ingratitude in pecking the hand that feeds them. Literally.
ReplyDeleteEC,
DeleteLemmings is correct. I think they see a little freckle and try to peck it off. But, it sure feels like ingratitude.
Well bird brain has a meaning now doesn't it? We have one of our baby chicks with a really deformed leg. It walks with a pronounced limp but seems to be fine otherwise.
ReplyDeleteOut My Window,
DeleteYes, it does. I am still trying to figure out how that chick got into that position. Hopefully, the other chicks don't see the deformity and peck it to death!
We always use the plastic or metal waterers that screw onto a mason jar and have used various items to hold feed. We use a regular chick feeder, one of the round ones, and I've never had a chick get stuck in one through 32 years of having chickens. Usually our set up is just a box with some pine shavings on the bottom and the waterer set on a brick in one corner, the feeder in another and a cheap metal light fixture with a 100-watt bulb suspended over the other end of the box. If its out in the garage, we make sure the box is tall enough to drape a towel over it to hold in the heat. However, after the chick massacre of last spring, I doubt we will ever raise chicks in the garage again. I don't think we've lost more than a half dozen chicks in all those years except for the weasel getting them last year.
ReplyDeleteThe feed and seed store laughs at the chicks because they have to rescue them from the feeders all the time. They knock over the waterer attached to the mason jar. That was a disaster since I had to clean water up all the time. They fought over who was going to be King of the Mountain. The waterer this time has been put up high to keep the shavings out. Tomorrow, I change to paper instead of shavings. That worked out better. Some people use a shallow bowl with rocks in it so the chicks won't drown. I remember the weasel massacre.
DeleteThe chickens we had, before they became chicken dinner to DIL's dogs, would peck my feet when I went in the cage to change the water or feed them. Not mulishly, just pecking for any morsel that might be on my shoe. It felt funny and I liked it. They were funny, too. We will have them again, one day.
ReplyDeleteCoffeypot,
DeleteI never liked my feet being pecked because I had on sandals and they tried to eat my little toe. I guess it looked like a tasty little morsel. Anyway, the toe bled. Then, it had a scab they wanted to eat. I learned to sort of dance around, picking up feet and putting them down very quickly.
Yes, chickens are funny. I hope you get yours soon.
I guess putting on some shoes or sneakers would have been too much?
DeleteCoffeypot,
DeleteActually, yes it would have been too much for me...lol. I hate shoes. I wore sandals today and I don't think the temperature ever reach 50, and I was out after dark. Its 39F now, and I still have on sandals.
I could live barefoot with a sheet wrapped around me if it would not be too strange. I try to fit in our society. But, shoes in the summer? Won't happen. Sneakers? Only if you tie me down and force them on me. Thanks for the question.
I use the chick feeder with the holes and have for 30 years...never had a chick get stuck. I keep the water raised so they can't poop in it and I use shredded newspaper for bedding. I've been very lucky, I guess...I very seldom lose a chick...except when the hawks attack.
ReplyDeleteLynda,
DeleteAfter the first week, they don't get stuck. It is the small sized ones that can get in there. Like I said, the first ten were a snap. Maybe I will never, ever lose another chick--I hope.