[Roxy]

As I posted last week, we had 5 bantie chicks hatch last Wednesday. All doing well, will be a week old tomorrow.

This morning, I went to open up the hen carrier to let them out in their run, and as I opened the door, I was horrified to find a chick squashed up the side of the caririer.  Bantam hen takes them in at dusk, and I shut the door. Never look under the hen, would get a good pecking for my pains.  Its obvious this one had gone up the side of the carrier before they went in and got lost.  I definitely did not hear any cheeping last night.  I scooped it up, and it was frozen, eyes closed, not even cheeping.

I was about to set off to work as was my OH.  Nothing to warm the chick up with up at the barn.  Had a brainwave, and handed chick to OH telling him to keep it warm in his hands and put the van heater on full.  We had 10 minutes before leaving for work.  I finished feeding all the animals, and went to van to check.  Chick still had eyes shut, but was beginning to cheep, which was a good sign.

I then had the dilemma of what to do with it.  Ideally I could have done with keeping it warm a bit longer. Dismissed idea of taking to work, although the heat in there would be great for a freezing chick.  There are cameras on, so maybe not a good idea to take a chick and put it next the radiator, and once it warmed up it would cheep for England!!  Another broody hen maybe?  No, ones that are sitting on eggs already, did not want to upset, and those that are just sitting clucking, may decide to get up and wander off.  Chicks mum was already out round the pen with the rest of her brood, so not likely to want to sit on this chick.  But she was the best option, so herded her and rest of chicks into cat carrier - got a few pecks from her on the way - then scooped chick up from van and popped it under her, praying she would sit on the chidks until it warmed up, I was not hopeful of a recovery, it was better than it was, but not fully warm, and its eyes were shut still.

Rushed home from work, and guess what?  Chick was walking round the pen none the worse for its night out in the cold.  I will be checking that run carefully from now on before shutting the door.

A very lucky chick don't you think

[jameslindsay]

Well done to the surrogate mum, great outcome Roxy.

[doganjo]

Now THAT'S what i call a caring livestock owner! Well done, Roxy!

[little blue]

very lucky chick, good job R has warm hands (mine are always cold!)
and good that mrs hen accepted it straight back....