ATTEMPTING TO MAKE THINGS EASIER ON THE HOMESTEAD

It is always something around here, but at least we are not alone.

If any of you saw this post from Hive account@bluerthangreen, then you know that after getting some advice from Hive account@mobile-joat, we had given Hive account@bluerthangreen and Hive account@allforthegood some fertilized chicken eggs to try to help them out. Since they do not currently have a rooster, they have no fertilized chicken eggs. The goal was to give one of their Muscovy ducks something to hatch, since she had lost her clutch of eggs to a Black Rat Snake.

The mama duck was having trouble coping with her loss so we gave her the opportunity to hatch something with the hopes that she would move on and get past her loss. She did hatch a chick, but the goal wasn't really achieved. Since they now had a new chick, Hive account@bluerthangreen and Hive account@allforthegood made a brooder box and hooked up a heat lamp.

With only one chick in the box though, it was a bit of effort and electricity, plus the chick was lonely...

ON TO PLAN C?

Since we already had two hens raising two chicks, and since one of those hens was the biological mother of the chick and not the duck, we figured that we might as well try to see if they would take care of it. They could provide it with company, protection, and warmth if they did not reject it.

This chick was quite a bit smaller than its siblings, and we had no guarantee that any of them would be kind towards this little one. If it worked, then this chick would be fine and no one would need to spend any more electricity or real effort in raising it. If it didn't, the chick could be wounded or maybe even killed.

Under close watch of the Hive account@little-peppers, the chick was placed in the nursery and observed. So far, this will be its second night in the nursery, and things are going better than expected. It is such a tiny creature compared to the other ones, and we are hoping that it might even be a rooster so that Hive account@bluerthangreen and Hive account@allforthegood could have one for their flock. We will see.

Truly it is always something around here, but with animals and children, and nearby friends to help, it is a huge blessing and real joy to be a part of. We will keep you posted!