Spring time on the farm means babies! And plenty of them! We started with duck eggs in the incubator and ended up with 4 babies. Then came the chicks... We at the moment have 25 of those in 6 different sets. Bird babies need lots of warmth and dry conditions to thrive in. With our crazy up and down weather in the last couple of weeks, we have opted to turn our house bathroom into a baby nursery once again! We have a brooder tote set up and a dog kennel in the bathroom plus a nursery box set up in our bedroom for our little Peanut and Butter.
Peanut is one of the 4 ducklings that were hatched from our own eggs. When she emerged she wasn't as fully developed as her siblings. Her legs were fully extended behind her and she could not get them under her. She would scoot around on her belly and get rather trampled on so we gave her, her own space. She was struggling to get and keep food down as she couldn't stand to swallow and she would choke on water. We would hold her upright and hold food and water dishes at a level where she could get tiny portions with MANY MANY breaks to make sure she wasn't choking. It was a very stressful situation for her people parents.
Then came Butter... Butter is a cute little bitty chick that has a hurt leg. She tries very much to be active and get around but she limps some and gets shoved around by the other chicks... SO she now lives with Peanut. The two of them are so amazing together. With MUCH care, time, patience, and help, Peanut is now standing upright although her balance is super fragile and has been able to grow daily by eating and drinking on her own. Butter has also greatly improved and can now mostly walk around without a limp. They keep each other company and provide many laughs with their antics. All the progress made is celebrated and they have now graduated to a bigger nursery box as they have become a bit more adventurous... Both escaped from their previous box and gave their people parents QUITE a scare.
Our other fluffy babies are growing like weeds and continue to keep us on our toes. We have bitty ducklings that are trying to swim in the water dishes and on occasion soak their chick roommates. We constantly have to monitor water and food levels to make sure the babies have everything they want to continue to grow and thrive. As soon as the weather breaks, these babies will be moved to the outside brooder where they will have TONS more space to run around and play in. They will start going outside during the day and come in at night for the next week to start getting them acclimated to the new sounds and new space that will become their living quarters for the next 7 weeks as they get ready to join the big flock
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