Farm Update: First Rains And Soggy Chicks

lily-da-vine (73)in #farming • 6 years ago

As farmers we're pretty in tune with the weather here so last night when it started pouring we knew, immediately. John got up concerned about a few things regarding the power system (like keeping it dry). I stayed in bed debating on whether or not I should go retrieve my chicks, all about the size of the one in the photo above. Chicks are the most vulnerable in storms and we've found many stuck in the mud dead or dying following a rain storm.

Exhausted I decided to stay in bed knowing I was getting up at 5 for a different reason and could check everyone then. I really didn't want to get up at five but knowing my silkie and chickies were out there in the cold and the dark motivated me enough and I went out with my phone as a flashlight to check them all. My silkie was fine but there were three chickies that I could see stuck to the ground soggy and dying. I immediately grabbed them and took them inside under a heat lamp. Had they stayed they would be dead but under the lamp they came back to life.

I didn't stay up long to watch them honestly, I just went back to bed and woke up a few hours later to find three dirty but totally fine chicks. I immediately went out and checked the rest of them to find half of them out of their house. I also found the black chick shown in this post stuck to the ground one eye open with a look that said "this is it, and it's a lame ass way to go". I picked it up, brought it inside and went to catch it's buddies.

By the time I fixed the weaknesses in the enclosure and caught the chicks, it was clear his other three friends I'd found earlier were ready to rejoin the flock. It was also clear that the fourth and final chickie would make it.

Now I've repeatedly considered the idea of some sort of waterproof box to put in with the chicks for them to sleep on but in my experience they likely won't use it and since most of our rain here is at night they'll likely be groggy and sleeping, not able to make it to shelter at that time. When the lights are out chickens literally power down almost, it's almost like they're solar powered.

Farming isn't all about catching eggs and feeding them and weather plays a huge role. Coming out of dealing with the challenges that come with the dry season like lack of water we are now faced with the challenges of the wet season in the form of soggy birds and possible sickness.