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keeping the lone surviver of this morning's predator?

post #1 of 6
4/29/12 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 

This morning we lost all but one of our 9 week old chicks to some type of predator.   They had left the coup early in the morning and were running free in the yard....  So this leaves one to live alone in the 64 SF tractor coup.  Is it advisable to keep just one chicken alone like this?

 

How about staying warm?      Tonight it'll be around 32F.  She's fully feathered (RI or NH red), but now lacks the warmth of others....

 

In a few weeks I could have new chicks to start over... 

 

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post #2 of 6
4/29/12 at 6:53pm

I think, she is going to need heat to stave off shock from the attack and the loss of her buddies.  I would bring her back inside and under a heat lamp.  I would also give her some electrolytes.  I'm so sorry for your loss! 

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, and all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God Made them all
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All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, and all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God Made them all
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post #3 of 6
4/30/12 at 3:17am

Yeah, I would bring her inside and set her up in a pet cage.Atleast a dog crate or something similar. I used a graco baby pen.Hopefully you can get a few off craigs around that age.

2013 Captures-4 coons, 1 possum, 1 groundhog.
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2013 Captures-4 coons, 1 possum, 1 groundhog.
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post #4 of 6
4/30/12 at 7:58pm
Thread Starter 

Thank you all.  Gave her the heat lamp last night and this morning she seemed to be doing well.  Actually acted as if she enjoyed having the place all to herself!  She came out a bit as I worked very nearby in the garden.

 

Believe that friend at work w/chickens will keep her until I can get better facilities and another flock together. 

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post #5 of 6
4/30/12 at 8:02pm

chickens are such social creatures.

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post #6 of 6
4/30/12 at 8:24pm

Pretty much the exact same thing happened to me a couple years ago. My survivor, a buff orp is still laying 5 eggs a week. All by herself..Baby your survivor for a little bit, get more... but im proof that a solo chicken can do VERY well for quite a while.. btw, im getting 5 new babies tomorrow, and ive learned a lot since that fox killed my girls. It has been 2 years now. Good luck and bullet proof!

 

Mark

1 buff orp, flock destroyed by neighborhood fox last year. Fox destroyed by SSS. Also have 1 cat, a dog, and a big fish tank. More chickens incoming first week of may 2012, to include 2 barred rocks, 1 rhode island red, 1 golden buff and one mystery packing peanut, rumored to be an egg layer.

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1 buff orp, flock destroyed by neighborhood fox last year. Fox destroyed by SSS. Also have 1 cat, a dog, and a big fish tank. More chickens incoming first week of may 2012, to include 2 barred rocks, 1 rhode island red, 1 golden buff and one mystery packing peanut, rumored to be an egg layer.

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