The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Roxy on June 24, 2010, 01:26:19 pm
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Who is Norris you ask?
Norris is a chick, hen only had two eggs, as she is only young and I thought she would not bother sitting the full 21 days, but she did, and hatched Norris out. He has his feathers now, and is quite big. But his mum has done as I feared and tired of Norris, so he wonders round the field on his own all day. I pop him with one of the other broodies who has 6 chicks at night, and he snuggles under her.......usually dark, so doubt she sees an extra one.
Yesterday morning, I was on my phone in the field. Suddenly Betsy one of the farm cats ran past, carrying a squawing Norris in her mouth. I dropped my phone mid sentence, and rushed after Betsy praying she would not get over the wall into the long grass. Managed to corner her, and rescue Norris, who was fine, just a bit ruffled.
Norris is now in a hen coop and run for his own safety. With having no mum to protect him, I suppose the cat saw its chance. The other chicks are much smaller, but I don't think the cats are daft enough to approach them and risk being attacked by their irate mum.
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Roxy, you never have a dull moment do you? ::) :P :chook:
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Poor Norris. Just as well he's got you looking after him ;D. Sounds like the basis for a children's book!
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Just been up to the field, and guess who was marching up on his own .....yes, him. He seems to have dug his way out, because his mum, who I put in with him, under protest, was still there. Maybe he has a death wish? I am at work tomorrow, so cannot stand guard over him. It would not be so bad if he hung around with the other mother hens and chicks, but he seems to want to do his own thing.
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Take him with you to work. He sounds like a real character :)
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"Norris the death wish chick"
"The adventures of Norris - Kamkazi chick"
:) don't they like to keep you on your toes?!!!
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Going to have to put him in another run - Norris was out again tonight. At bedtime I went looking for him. Got a bit worried as he was nowhere to be seen. Then I heard a cheeping coming from one of the hen houses. I don't know how, but he had hopped through the hen hole, found his mum, and flown onto the perch beside her, and was under her wing. I thought he may get squashed by the big fat hens, so picked him and mum up and put them in the coop. The bantam is not clucking any more and seems to have gone off broody thats why poor Norris is hanging out on his lonesome.
Will try and get a pic of the little wanderer.