Sunday, April 10, 2005
I haven't quite decided on a name for chick number four. I think it's because I thought for sure he/she wouldn't last through the night. To my surprise, she's alive and doing well. I decided this morning it was time to move her into the brooder but I knew there was no way she'd survive with Lucky and Jack Jack around. So, I dug out another cardboard box and opened up what I like to call the Chickie Intensive Care Unit. There, Number Four and Hero have been getting extra special attention and can also rest without having Jack Jack and Lucky constantly pecking and climbing all over them. After watching Four struggle for awhile I decided she must be having trouble walking due to the fact that her right wing was completely hard from the sticky stuff drying out in the incubator. So, I gave her a little sponge bath and blew her dry a bit with the hairdryer. Then I returned her to the ICU and within minutes she was trying to walk. I think tomorrow it will be time to close the ICU and put all four babies together. Four is doing remarkably well (I never thought she'd make it this far) and as for Hero--I still have hope for the poor bird. I just read about a chick that was born with a deformed leg that actually survived and now lives on a special farm for "special needs birds." I'm sure Hero would probably be better off if I just left her alone but I'd love to see her make it even if it means she has to hobble her way through life. She is just beautiful and mild mannered--she falls asleep in my hands when I hold her almost everytime. She may end up being my favorite. As for Jack Jack and Lucky--they remind me of "Porter and the bad boys" and I can see the little livewires causing me a lot of problems in the future. You should see how much they poop! Anyway, Hero and Lucky are already getting their feathers and hopefully Jack Jack and Four won't be far behind. Then they'll be all set for moving outside where they can eat our grubs and fertilize our lawn and make yummy eggs for us to eat. (Okay that's a little optimistic but who says I can't live with my head in the clouds a little. Afterall--Jack Jack and Four survived this long when everything said they didn't have a chance. Who says they won't lay me eggs?)
P.S. All this shell picking, sponge bathing and blow drying is not scientific and you should never follow my bad example as a mother hen. I really have no idea what I'm doing and 95% of the time expect them to die at any moment. If you ever decide to hatch baby chickens DO NOT follow my advice.
posted by Shana # 10:37 PM 
|
|
|
