LIVINGSTON COUNTY – In a partnership system that was hatched about a hundred years ago, state agencies are once again offering free pheasant chicks to residents on the ground, to be raised and released into the wild. A press release from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation calls the system 'a partnership among DEC, hunters, 4-H youth groups, and landowners interested in rearing and releasing pheasants.' The 'Day-Old … [Read more...]
Beware Heat Lamp Fire Hazards While Raising Birds
LIVINGSTON COUNTY – Spring has sprung and it's time to raise chicks and ducklings, but fire experts caution homeowners of fire risks from heat lamps commonly used to keep baby birds warm at night. The birds are relatively easy to raise and a fun way for young kids to share the responsibility of raising animals. However, as has been seen in past years, some setups for raising the fuzzy friends can be risky, or outright dangerous. "You have … [Read more...]
Chicken Heat Lamp Triggers Conesus Barn Fire
CONESUS – An old barn on Turkey Hill Road burned to the ground Thursday evening, apparently due to a heat lamp for newly purchased baby chicks. The barn and 36 chicks appear to be the only losses in the fire, which broke out at about 7 p.m. "We just bought [the chicks] today, too. We set up a heat lamp for them and it looks like the heat lamp eventually caught some of the blankets on fire," said a 13 year old boy, whose name is witheld at … [Read more...]