When I was a kid, we’d go to my grandma’s almost every weekend. I loved spending time with the chickens. I can remember that my grandma had one that was lame. I can’t remember the details but she didn’t move very fast and I could always catch her and hold and pet her. As she got older, she had more trouble getting around and then we went to visit and that chicken wasn’t there. I remember that my grandma wouldn’t tell me what happened to her but I knew that it wasn’t good.
We have this poor little chick. She’s the same one we had isolated before.
She eats . . way too much! She’s always at the food bowl. She’s so chunky but she’s also just not shaped right. When I pick them all up, the others, even the ones that eat plenty, are real scrawny when you feel under their feathers. This one is like a little balloon almost ready to pop! She’s pooping just fine. She’s way too short and the others run over her . . not even trying to be mean but she just can’t move very fast.
Today she kept chirping very loudly . . I think she’s in distress but I don’t know. When Vince came home, he cleaned out the hospital box and put her in it so at least she’s not getting run over by the others.
I don’t think she’s going to make it. I know that’s what happens on a farm. When there are animals, there are losses. It still breaks my heart. To lose two chickens in a few days is not easy.
And, so we don’t end this post on a sad note, here are my five little bantams.
They are so darned cute. They’re nosey, they’re fast, they seem to have a purpose to everything they do. They’re always in a hurry. I could sit and watch them all day. They’re still in my sewing room and I’m so ready to make the sewing room a chicken free zone!
Debbie R. says
Sorry about the chick…. I remember the incubator at grandma’s helping turn the eggs…
Linda in NE says
A couple of those little bantys are keeping a close eye on you.
I remember when Mom would get her chicks I loved just sitting and watching them. So cute. And like you say, busy busy busy.
Sharon Spingler says
I am so sorry to hear about your babies. Raising birds (I’m down to 9 for over 19 at one time). It’s hard because you feel so close to them.,
Terry says
Hey Judy, don’t know if you know this about bantams or not but they fly pretty high. I hope your fence will be high enough to contain them. We had a bantam rooster that I got from my Dad and we had clipped his wings to keep him here at our house but nope he had other ideas. Even with clipped wings and tail he flew over our 5ft fence and went home to Dad’s. Sorry about the sick chicken. I didn’t like it either when we lost 2 of ours last year.
Barbara says
So sorry for the sick chick and for the one you already lost. We raised a lot of chickens when I was young and we would get them in the mail. Not sure where the folks ordered them from but anyway we had to keep them in the house for a few weeks under the lamp. Then we would put them out in the pen only during the day and my brother and I would have to catch them in the evening and bring them back into the brooder. I kept chickens until probably 25 years ago. Good memories but I don’t keep chickens anymore.