Just trying to keep these chickens alive

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OrganicFarmWife

OrganicFarmWife

Crowing
Oct 21, 2015
5,031
1,054
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No where Nebraska
I started with 10 hatchlings this spring lost all but 3, 2 hens 1 rooster, to preditors. I got 5 more pullet hatchlings this September, lost one. Hoping to manage to keep these guys alive.
 
OrganicFarmWife said:
I started with 10 hatchlings this spring lost all but 3, 2 hens 1 rooster, to preditors. I got 5 more pullet hatchlings this September, lost one. Hoping to manage to keep these guys alive.
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Welcome to BYC!
Have you improved your security to address the predator issue? Did you identify the cause of death for the pullet from the second batch? Both those issues will play into your success with the remaining birds.
 
You have to turn your coop and run into Fort Knox or you will be replacing birds frequently. Chicken lives matter. Before getting replacements - know why you lost them to begin with. Set up game cams, night motion detectors with lights and alarm. Set up baby monitor in the coop- so you will hear any disturbance.
 
I think it was the farm cats that got most of them over the spring, I may have let the chickens out too early. We do have raccoons and other preditors. I have the young chickens locked up in our barn in a room surrounded by chicken wire, they seem secure. the older ones are still roosting in the shed and except for the mysterious loss of one a month ago seem alright.
I was planning on putting the older chickens in the barn as soon as it got colder.
no idea why the hatchling died, husband told me some would.
 
Hello!
400

Welcome to BYC and the coop! There's a lot of great peeps here! Feel free to ask lots of questions. But most of all, make yourself at home. I'm so glad you decided to joined the BYC family. I look forward to seeing you around BYC.
 
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A word of caution on chicken wire...all it really does is keep chickens in, it won't keep a determined predator out. Hardware cloth will do a better job of protecting your flock from other animals and while the initial cost to install it can seem high, in the long run it will be cheaper than constantly replacing your chickens.

Good luck to you, if you have questions always feel free to ask.
 

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