Chicks arrived and the skunk got skunked!

Ten little chicks arrived this week at the farm. We buy several chicks each year to add to the ongoing menagerie. There are more than 50 chickens in our hen house and people wonder what we do with so many? We sell the eggs. Our breed of chickens have the capacity to lay approximately 120 eggs(depending on the breed) in their life. When a chicken is through laying eggs they are welcome to stay in our hen house and live out their pecking life. And, that is why we have so many chickens. The lifetime of a chicken is close to five years. The chickens add up! For the first several weeks the chicks are in a wire coupe and have a heat lamp over them at all times. They get fed plenty of water and special chick food. If the chicks don't get the proper nutrition they won't live. It is a fine balance between life and death during the first few days. I sadly report that two of ours didn't make it this time. We have no idea why.
In a very short time the chicks will grow into a gangly, not so cute stage which passes quickly and they become beautiful full grown chickens.
Now, for the skunk who got skunked or better put, got himself stuck and died! This skunk tried to climb into a fence that wasn't large enough and he couldn't wriggle through. He died a short time before we found him. My husband came to remove the skunk from the fence and I must say that after the removal......a very strong odor settled in the air and we had to get back quickly!! The skunk is now bagged and the odor has subsided.....for the most part!!
Say goodbye to the skunk. He had a good life until it ended in tragedy. Poor little thing.
Slow Boy catches up with Fast Girl!!