Today we rose up early, and wandered bleery eyed and stumbling down to the local Post Office, where we picked up our hundred bird Rarest of the Rare assortment of chicks. We happily raced home where we decided to warm our chicks up in their new pasteboard box home inside before moving them to our insulated but cold greenhouse office. They were just doing wonderful and were happily eating and drinking and generally racing around. Then we decided to move the box and I carried the lights while my son Kenny carried the little babies to their permanent abode. Off we went, me ahead with the lights and Kenny behind with the chicks so that I could open doors. The babies started this awful uproar, which was to be expected given the bouncing and lurching. Soon we arrived in the office where we proceded to run around hooking up lights. We had a towel over the box so the babies wouldn't lose heat. It wasn't until right before I intended to put the light back on them that I lifted the towel away only to be horrified by the sight of half drowned baby chicks. My son had neglected to remove the waterer in his haste to get them moved. Soon we had several not even able to stand up even though we had the lights blazing. So we absorbed the water and sent a child racing for the hair dryer. We then spent an hour blow drying baby chicks whom I'm sure were pretty upset at having hot air blown in their face. Nevertheless we were able to save all but one who became so weak that he fell into the waterer and drowned. Moral of the story: If you buy chicks move the waterer before moving them. If you are fool enough not to move the waterer first keep your hairdryer handy. Also when Murphy's Law takes over better write a new law.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@farm.com), February 19, 2002

Answers

99 baby chicks in a box, 99 baby chicks. You take the crate, and agitate, 98 baby chicks in a box.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), February 19, 2002.

LOL Kevin

-- shari (smillers@snowcrest.net), February 19, 2002.

Kevin, you are terrible!!! :>

Little Bit, it's too bad it had to happen, but you sure did a quick job of saving them. Losing just one is really not too bad considering the dunking they got. Good going with the hair dryer! :)

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), February 19, 2002.

Kevin - You are so bad, but that was too funny!!

Little Bit, I'm so glad you were able to save all but one. Who did you buy them from? Is there much of a hassle buying mail order chicks? I would like to get some layers, so I would like to know all the details, about mail order that is. Thanks -

-- kathy (kathy0801@msn.com), February 19, 2002.

Thank goodnes you could save all but one! I am curious. What kind of waterers could you be using that chicks could drowned in? Even for ducklings I have the smallest waterers I can find so they won't get wet. I realize they were being jostled around but I still don't get it. LQ

-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), February 19, 2002.

OH Kevin! I just about peed my pants at that one-you should give some kind of warning!

-- Terri in WV (mrs_swift_26547@yahoo.com), February 20, 2002.

Kevin- you really got me laughing!

-- Anne (Healthytouch101@wildmail.com), February 20, 2002.

Kevin----the people at work do think that I am strange, but when they asked why I couldn't stop laughing and I answered-----------NOW THEY REALLY THINK THAT i AM TWISTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Bonnie (queqid@att.net), February 20, 2002.

I had just a basic chick waterer in the box that holds a quart jar. The bouncing made all the chicks wet and then one got so weak before we could dry it that it's face fell in the waterer and sucked a little up it's nose and it was over dover. Today I found one more that did the same thing. Not sure what happened with that, except maybe he fell asleep.

I ordered my chicks from Murray McMurray. Which except for the outlandish prices has good selection and good service. None were dead when they arrived. You can find them at http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@farm.com), February 20, 2002.