Am I overthinking this?!

[Nomadicus]

Protect the chicks in an enclosure that is rat proof or the rats will love a chick dinner.

 

[Micmac1234]

Protect the chicks in an enclosure that is rat proof or the rats will love a chick dinner.

The chicks will be under the broody hen. If they have access to the chicken food they’re apparently obsessed with, would they really bother messing with the hen to get a chick?

 

[FunClucks]

Oh that’s definitely good to know. After they stop laying, do they keep going broody…?

Yes, they are quite desirable even after they stop laying eggs. Many broody hens will brood their whole lives.

 

[FunClucks]

The chicks will be under the broody hen. If they have access to the chicken food they’re apparently obsessed with, would they really bother messing with the hen to get a chick?

Yes, unfortunately, they will. Live juicy dinner is better than boring old food.

 

[Micmac1234]

Yes, unfortunately, they will. Live juicy dinner is better than boring old food.

Well crap. I have no idea what to do. Maybe put the hen and babies into a brooder at night? And let them out during the day?

 

[FunClucks]

Here’s my next question… I am battling fricking rats in my coop. I thought they were gone but they were back last night. Will they attack the baby chicks?!?!

Right now I am laying traps outside the coop and in my shed that the coop shares a wall with (and that they live underneath) and taking away all of the chicken food at night and there’s poison out but unfortunately the rats are just eating whatever chicken food is left on the floor from that day and they aren’t going near the poison.

When the baby chicks get here, I plan on putting the food back out for the rats…absolutely kills me to say that…but I figured if they have an easy food source they won’t mess with the chicks.

I bought two of these, and they work very well. No spilled feed, strong enough to protect the feed at night. Keep it under a cover and mount it on a pallet or something to keep it up off the (wet) ground, and make sure the rain doesn't get in, and you'll never have feed go moldy. I have had bugs get into these, but the chickens just eat those.

https://ratproofchickenfeeder.net/feeders/

http://ratproofchickenfeeder.com/Ratproof-Chicken-Feeders_c_1.html

One of these sites is the explanations, the other is the sale site. Al Gerhart is a member on here, and there's a number of threads that talk about these feeders and folks' experiences with them. He is a cabinet builder that got tired of rats and did something about it. Had mine for over a year now.

 

[FunClucks]

Well crap. I have no idea what to do. Maybe put the hen and babies into a brooder at night? And let them out during the day?

Do you have any type of secure enclosure for them? I took an extra large wire dog crate (the biggest they sell), and covered it with hardware cloth (zip ties, metal and plastic). This would provide a rat/mouse proof enclosure, and would be big enough for food and water also. You could put the broody in there, and let her out during the day if desired (but you may not have to). The idea is to have a secure enclosure where the rats can't enter. Any space greater than 1/2" may provide an entry point.

https://www.ruralking.com/precision-pet-products-2-door-dog-crate-48-inch-10006460

 

[Micmac1234]

Do you have any type of secure enclosure for them? I took an extra large wire dog crate (the biggest they sell), and covered it with hardware cloth (zip ties, metal and plastic). This would provide a rat/mouse proof enclosure, and would be big enough for food and water also. You could put the broody in there, and let her out during the day if desired (but you may not have to). The idea is to have a secure enclosure where the rats can't enter. Any space greater than 1/2" may provide an entry point.

https://www.ruralking.com/precision-pet-products-2-door-dog-crate-48-inch-10006460

I do have a safe enclosure but definitely not one that they’d be able to hang out in all day. Luckily the rats are away during the day because we have dogs and little kids and just lots of activity. Not to mention the chickens are awake which keeps them away. So I guess the brooder would work just for sleeping

 

[Nomadicus]

The chicks will be under the broody hen. If they have access to the chicken food they’re apparently obsessed with, would they really bother messing with the hen to get a chick?

Absolutely. They may even want the chicks worse than anything else you might give them.

 

[PachanPeeps]

Hey there! I'm sorry your shipped eggs didn't make it! I have a gal who went broody last year, and I'm excited to let her be a mama this year if all works out too.

I'm in Colorado, outside of Denver with an Easter Egger rooster. I'd be happy to sell some fertilized eggs if you're interested in backyard Easter Eggers. The hens are Gold Laced Wyandotte, Welsummer, EEs, and Russian Orloff. I'll be out of town this weekend, but let me know!