Hard Day for chicks

Our white hen brought out her two chicks to parade around the pasture. So I went into the coop and found another chick laid out on the floor, but it was alive. So I brought it inside by the fire and gave it water, it perked up 2 hours later chirping and hungry. We fed it chick protein and some walnut bread and it was full of energy. We decided to return it to the hen. She accepted it and it is under her wing. The sad news is that my husband located 3 other dead chicks by the evening. We missed these in our 1st chick hunt. They got behind the nest box and froze in the cold. Frustrating that we did not see them in time. We learned to push the nest box against the coop wall. The cold is the enemy of baby chicks this time of the year. At least we have 3 live chicks to watch grow in our coop. Looking forward to more chicks this spring and summer.

First Chick

Today, my white game hen surprised me with a golden chick. It was running around in the chicken coop then dove under mama. I think she has more under her, I have just left her alone. She has been brooding for 3 weeks. I can hardly wait to see all her chicks. It is so nice have a broody hen do all the work nature intended. Having home brooded 2 batches of chicks ourselves, it is messy smelly work for inside the house. I am much happier to leave it to the hens outside. This batch is also from our best rooster. This will be his first flock as a father. Going to be a busy spring.

Horse Rescues

I read a lot of blogs that are horse rescue blogs. I read them to educate myself about what not to do with horses as well as happy horse news. Being a new horse owner of 2 auction mares and their babies, I need all the help I can get. I am amazed how well horses can come back from the brink of death with good food, vet care and loving attention. If you want to read about good rescues that are making the most out of donations and animal care; check out these links:

Sunkissed Acres, Shiloh Horse Rescue, and Second Chance Ranch.

This past week we called out vet out to check why our gray mare was lame, she got thrush at the trainers barn. The barn is always wet in the stalls from poor drainage. He showed us what thrush looks like (is black) and smells like dirty socks. So we are putting a green liquid called Kopertox on her frogs for the next 3 weeks. Everyday she gets her hooves picked clean and this green staining liquid on her frogs. She never had thrush at home. Anyway the treatment is working and she is running all over the dry lot with the weanlings.

Our vet also checked over our weanling colt, Mr. Bean. He was looking pot bellied. Turns out a lot of weanlings go through this "ugly" stage and his body was in great shape. However, he only had one testicle drop and is Cryptorchidisc . This means he will need surgery at the vet office to be gelded instead of being gelded at home. We are waiting to see if it drops on its own by the end of February. It is never dull out here in the Ozarks.