[Roxy]

I know its just one of those things, and like all livestock, you have losses among the hatched chicks.  Last year was bad, as I lost about 6 chicks to one of the farm cats, when they kept squeezing through the run sides.  Lost one the other day when mother hen stood on it, but until yesterday  I was quite pleased with managing to keep the other chicks safe.  Hubby had made the pens safer and all seemed well.......but two of the chicks kept escaping all the same.  Bantie chicks especially are so tiny.

Went to feed chicks yesterday morning, and one missing - checked all round, and decided cat had got it - although he has been curled up for two days looking sorry for himself, having caught a cold  in the awful rain on Sunday - so doubt it was him this time who was the culprit!!

Was busy most of the day, not doing outside jobs, but sorting out show entries for the ponies, and ringing here and there, and going to the post office  with the forms etc.  At 4pm checked round the chick pens, fed and watered them. Then found a chick in the corner of the pen, seemingly stuck by the leg  [or so I thought].  No, it was not stuck, but seemed exhausted, eyes closed, cold - although it was a warm day.  Thought it was dehyrated, with the sun.  Gave it a drink,cupped it in my hands - still very limp looking.  Had a brainwave.  Got a travel hairdryer in my bag, ran next door with that and chick,

[AengusOg]

...and...!??

[Roxy]

Lost my connection before I had finished!!

Gave chick a quick gentle blow dry, and it perked up.  Still got eyes shut.  But, put it back with bantam and other chicks.  It sat under the mum, and appeared a bit brighter. Just before leaving last night I had one last look.  Poor thing looked so tiny, only one other a similar size.  It kept getting bowled over onto its back by its larger siblings. But three are Cream legbar, so will be bigger than bantes.

Suddenly, I realised there were 7 chicks there, not 6.  Was a bit confused - why was there 7?  Yes, I had returned the one inb the corner of the pen, but it dawned on me that  this must be the missing chick from the other pen.  What is amazing, is that the chick had somehow walked through nettles and long grass, round the stables, must have heard the cheeping and squeezed through a gap to get it.  No wonder it was exhausted, a week old and walking all that way!!

I returned it to its rightful mum, and it dived under her, among chicks its own size.  This morning, its still a bit wobbly, but walking round with the others.

One lucky chick, to survive all day outside, especially with a dozen cats prowling around, not to mention magpies!!

[jaykay]

Nice to have a happy ending 

[doganjo]

Brilliant story - all the better for the gap!  Kept us on tenterhooks!  Lucky chick indeed.

[TheCaptain]

YAY! A happy ending - good work!

[Roxy]

Maybe a hair dryer is not the correct procedure in such matters ....but, it worked and thats the important thing!!  Thankfully next door do not mind me helping myself to electric now and again, as we do not have such mod cons at our field .  I do have a heat pad for puppies and kittens, and I daresay the constant heat that gives would also work in an emergency.

[suziequeue]

Yeah

Well done Roxy

If it's stupid and it works..... it's not stupid!!

[little blue]

phew!  happy ending after all