Mail order chicks have arrived

Friday morning they arrived - a box full of 78 chirping little chicks awaiting their stay on the farm for 8 weeks before heading off to freezer camp elsewhere.

We were really ready for them this year - one by one they were removed from the box and had their little beaks dipped into sugary water and then placed on the floor of the brooder.  There was only one REALLY little chick that seemed to not be doing well right from the start.  Within an hour or so we introduced them to food and grit - which they immediately took interest in.

Kelli meticiously checked the temperature throughout the brooder (you can see her sneaking the probe in on the left on the photo) - all was good - no drafts - happy chicks.

About 5 hours later we had our first fatality - no special circumstances - just one lone chick, it's legs stretched out like they sometimes do under the heat lamps - stiffer than a board.  We also took note of the "small one" that had seem less active when we were adding them to the brooder - and that chick looked "unhappy" as well.

The reality is - it's not uncommon to loose up to 5% of any given flock from transportation and other issues - so one down and another on the edge wasn't too bad.  Especially since last year we didn't loose ANY (well - maybe one - but that was my fault).

Anyhow - Friday night ended with us euthanizing the little one that never seemed quite right from the moment we introduced him.  I had tried to feed sugar water with a needle-less syringe and watered yogurt - but the small one just kept getting weaker and weaker - not eating or drinking...  so we helped nature bring one more back to the nest.

Monday mornings count - after a very cold night outside where we were afraid of frost - 76 happy - healthy - hungry little chicks...  who are already developing wing feathers...  and a very clear understanding that my hand means food.

Comments

[Jeph Remley]

So how does one euthanize a chick? And do you guys feel sad when you find one's passed away, even though you have so many extras?

They sure are cute! I hope you don't squish any this year...

[Andy]

It's kinda simple actually - you just have to realize you are the steward of these animals and as such need to treat them with the utmost respect... in seeing this little guy suffering - the humane thing to do was end the suffering. Unlike last year where we had a little guy that we nursed back - this guy was too far gone - couldn't even swallow the sugar water I was feeding to him in drops.
Basically - a screwdriver held perpendicular to the back of the neck at the base of the skull. It's not fun - but you then put a little pressure on the back of the neck and while holding the head down on a solid surface you quickly yank the chick to separate the skull from the neck... it's as instantaneous as you can get - and this little guy was so weak he didn't even know he was being manipulated around.
And yes - we feel sad - but it IS nature.

[Pam]

You're a hard man, Andy. (that's what she said.)

I hope it wasn't little Fricasse or AlaKing who were the early goners. Oh well, they'll all be goners soon. But they'll be moneymaking goners in a few weeks! Good luck.

[Andy]

@Pam - Thanks thanks