Debbie, One hen can hide, but the odds are not good for a hen with a nest to escape predators. Your hen escaped and beat the odds there. The chances of the hen and chicks making it are slim to nothing. I'd capture her and the chicks at night. Meanwhile put out water and chick feed and plan on getting them tonight. Go out with a fishing net or borrow one if you do not have one.
Cathryn rainbowsilkiesTM Michigan
From: Deborah Garland <nopper@ripnet.com>
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, August 2, 2012 11:50 AM
Subject: [CHICKENS-101] day old chicks
One of my hens walked out of the bush today with a bunch of baby chicks
following her. What do I do now???
I tried catching them to put them in the chicken coop but they all
scattered and the hen freaked out. I decided to just leave them alone
and see what she would do. She went back into the bush but she is
keeping close by. I did manage to catch one chick and I put it in with
my broody hens. Will they accept this chick as their own?? It was
peeping pretty loudly for awhile but seemed to settle down. I have 3
broody hens who haven't left the nest box on their own for the past 3 or
4 weeks.
I am not really set up to raise chicks, I usually buy my hens ready to lay.
Should I just let her try and raise them in the bush? We are on 120
acres and there is a lot of wild life out there. My 20 hens are all free
range but they do go into the coop at night where I lock them away.
Obviously this hen made a nest somewhere and kept herself safe for the
past month. I am worried about the lack of water. We are in the middle
of a drought and there isn't the usually streams and puddles that would
be around in past years. Should I put out some water for them??
I really am at a loss here. I would hate for the chicks to die if I
could do something to save them.
Any advice please
Debbie
following her. What do I do now???
I tried catching them to put them in the chicken coop but they all
scattered and the hen freaked out. I decided to just leave them alone
and see what she would do. She went back into the bush but she is
keeping close by. I did manage to catch one chick and I put it in with
my broody hens. Will they accept this chick as their own?? It was
peeping pretty loudly for awhile but seemed to settle down. I have 3
broody hens who haven't left the nest box on their own for the past 3 or
4 weeks.
I am not really set up to raise chicks, I usually buy my hens ready to lay.
Should I just let her try and raise them in the bush? We are on 120
acres and there is a lot of wild life out there. My 20 hens are all free
range but they do go into the coop at night where I lock them away.
Obviously this hen made a nest somewhere and kept herself safe for the
past month. I am worried about the lack of water. We are in the middle
of a drought and there isn't the usually streams and puddles that would
be around in past years. Should I put out some water for them??
I really am at a loss here. I would hate for the chicks to die if I
could do something to save them.
Any advice please
Debbie
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