tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009967346802541581.post7392287866743648235..comments2023-11-05T01:38:03.385-08:00Comments on New To Farm Life: Chick AttritionAimeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06358194304460170717noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009967346802541581.post-29180250527295130442009-07-24T18:24:13.833-07:002009-07-24T18:24:13.833-07:00I was going to suggest that hawks could be a probl...I was going to suggest that hawks could be a problem but read that you're aware of it. Rodents too can be a problem. They will eat the entire carcass and you wont see a single feather.<br />We hatch out our eggs in an electric incubator, we find the chicks are healthier this way. There is dust on the chook feathers and when they take their first breath, they inhale dust which will affect them when about half grown. (Mareks disease) The only problem with the incubator method is that they need artificial heat for the first 6 weeks or so.<br />Dont give up, there are many things to try.Olivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14389835614289815501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009967346802541581.post-34566095194862268412009-07-24T09:40:40.131-07:002009-07-24T09:40:40.131-07:00I do have a cat, but I never see him out by the ch...I do have a cat, but I never see him out by the chickens. He can't get in the barn, anyway. When they are really tiny, they seem to die by cold or by getting tangled up in something. When outside, I think it's hawks. There are dozens and dozens of hawks.Aimeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358194304460170717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009967346802541581.post-26764647507346724712009-07-24T03:18:45.899-07:002009-07-24T03:18:45.899-07:00oh man, I HATE stumbling across dead critters. Fa...oh man, I HATE stumbling across dead critters. Farm life certainly teaches one all about the balance between life and death though. Although I was amazed that in Cuba, the chickens run around free, and all the hens seem to have a healthy amount of chicks running around behind them....right near busy roads even.<br /><br />I don't know what to suggest. We never did any home-brooding when I was growing up, nor have we begun since I've been back helping out. No barn cats around??Jerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10354640729644229842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009967346802541581.post-74284146306007451082009-07-23T21:02:24.995-07:002009-07-23T21:02:24.995-07:00That's a good thought, but as far as I know th...That's a good thought, but as far as I know the only snakes around here are garter snakes, and they only get about a foot long, max. Maybe a foot and a half. I doubt they are eating the chicks.Aimeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06358194304460170717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7009967346802541581.post-70822633440364360442009-07-23T20:15:17.537-07:002009-07-23T20:15:17.537-07:00What about snakes?? THey can get in where mice can...What about snakes?? THey can get in where mice can. I have seen fairly big black snakes squeeze thru and chickens cant see real well in the dark so a snake could get a baby real easy. That would make them disappear.Toniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09223141257252367520noreply@blogger.com