chicks due in three days

  Doesn't take much around here for the wildlife to take your chickens. Owl, fox, coyote, dogs and hawks. Ive had chickens hit by moving vehicles too. 

I let them free range. Free to run and roll and dust bathe. Chase moths and lay in the warm sun with wings outstretched. 

But they also are chased a lot. Fox will prowl the wooded edges, making multiple attempts to steal one. The hawks swoop down and perch nearby just waiting for one to not pay attention. Owls awake right as dusk begins, silently move closer to the chickens pathways used to return to the coop. Racooms i've only experienced at night, chasing them bare foot back into the woods.

Wanted to add this link in about genetics and this women's personal story of how quickly your breeding project can become ruined.

https://youtu.be/-GmfMHC2zOo

The beginning half of her story is normal genetic speak, and fhe ended reveals how her genetic project ended so suddenly. 💔

Kenny was taken a couple weeks ago, and as a 8# bird and the largest of my flock, I was really surprised it was able to drag him, leaving a few mottle flocked feathers as a memento. 

I hatched out five eggs, all healthy amd now I have jammed 8 eggs into a 7 egg incubator.  Hand rotating twice a day. And rearranging at same time so all eggs have equal chance at the 90 minute automatic rotations. All 8 were fertilized at day 10 check. I couldn't just dispose of one,  and I couldn't wait 21 days to set for it would not be viable..

These are kennys last eggs.