I came home from the Farmer’s Market yesterday afternoon and my dh was in the garage, around my brooder. He had gotten another one out and was messing with it. NOW, up until now, the chicks, keets and poults have all been “my thing”. My curiosity was definitely aroused.
He answers the questions coming from the bewildered look on my face. “I found a chick over by the big barn”……….
“WHAT?” I asked……….and he repeated himself.
Sure enough, a cute little chipmunk chick, approx 2 days old based on the wing feathers. Standard size and it seems mama was not happy when he snatched it up. BUT, we have seen what happens to baby chicks in a yard with 60+ chickens, guineas and turkeys.
So, baby chick is fed and watered…….he even put it’s little beak in the water to show it how to drink. (He HAS been paying attention!!)
This morning, I decide to check on little chick and I’m feeling bad since it is alone. (dh looked for more at the barn but didn’t find any) I get this brilliant idea to put one of the two week old guinea keets in with it. The smallest keet is almost the same size as little chick.
I put the keet in and of course, it zipped to the farthest corner of the brooder to get away from me. Little chick sees it and makes a beeline for it……pecking it’s back and wing and then it’s little orange feet! Chased it all over the brooder! And to think, I was worried about little chick and not the guinea.
I gave him a few minutes to “straighten up and fly right” but he continued to bully the keet, so I put little keet back with it’s 7 siblings and left Henzilla alone.
Now, we are keeping our fingers crossed that this display of animosity towards his neighbor isn’t an indication he is a HE………….but, I am mighty doubtful this little chick is a girl. I guess we’ll see.
Laura
Laura Roberts
R Half Pint Farm
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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