Saw my first chick of the year this afternoon but it was nothing to celebrate.
We had a late frost this year and all the farmers are mowing the hay fields early this year to get what hay there is and to collect on insurance.
The little chick ( maybe 3-4 days old) was running around scared and confused in front of the local hardware store as his hay field next door had been
laid down by the swather. No sign of a hen or other siblings anywhere. I hope they somehow made it out in front of the mower and gathered him in but pretty doubtful.
Drought conditions along with that early frost haven't been kind to the wildlife. Also saw a doe running around as if searching for a fawn in the same field. With all the hay coming down early my hopes for a large fall population have fallen.
We had a late frost this year and all the farmers are mowing the hay fields early this year to get what hay there is and to collect on insurance.
The little chick ( maybe 3-4 days old) was running around scared and confused in front of the local hardware store as his hay field next door had been
laid down by the swather. No sign of a hen or other siblings anywhere. I hope they somehow made it out in front of the mower and gathered him in but pretty doubtful.
Drought conditions along with that early frost haven't been kind to the wildlife. Also saw a doe running around as if searching for a fawn in the same field. With all the hay coming down early my hopes for a large fall population have fallen.
