Chicks, a mother who lost interest (maybe), a hawk, and a bully

[ecwetzel]

A wonderful hen of ours reared 3 chicks this summer. After raising some chicks in our garage last year, my husband and I have praised how easy this process has been to have a hen do it all for us. They have free-ranged from the beginning with all our other hens and all have been living happily together. They turn 6 weeks old tomorrow, and just yesterday I noticed the momma go off on her own for the first time and the chicks not follow. I see this is no big deal at 6 weeks, and common BUT, a hawk went after one of the babies yesterday.

I ran out like a lunatic and scared the hawk off. I was sure the chick was dying, but I placed her in a separate cage for a couple of hours and besides being in shock, she seems okay. I tried introducing her back into the enclosed run, but one of our other hens jumped up to attack her while she was still in my hands.

Now, this bully hen won't leave her alone. And the momma doesn't seem to be stepping in to protect the chick.

So, my questions...
1. What do I do about this bully and chick?
2. I am locking up the chicks during the day in the coop because of the hawk, but the other hens can't get in an lay now. I'm not sure what to do. The separate cage I have is small and not safe for overnight, that is for sure. Is this okay?

 

[PD-Riverman]

Mom is through raising them probably---time for her to move on with her own thing. Chicks can not be turned out to free range where there is Hawks around----they will be gotten. A lot of people raise the chicks with the adults----I never had any good luck doing that, some do. I don't even think about putting them together anymore. If I did---it would be after they got to adult size so they can protect themselves. Good Luck

 

[Abriana]

Buy or make a run-with hardware cloth, not chicken wire!-and place it inside the pen. That was the hens can see the chicks, but can't attack them. They will grow used to seeing the chicks around and won't try to hurt them when they come out, and this way they will learn the danger of hawks, while not actually being in danger. When you see them scurrying for cover, they are aware of the danger.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Yup it sounds like mom is finished raising them.
Not sure why your hen was being a snot.
If she keeps it up you may have some tough decisions to make.
Perhaps the little one was still shaken up and therefore seen as weakened.

 

[Abriana]

Yup it sounds like mom is finished raising them.
Not sure why your hen was being a snot.
If she keeps it up you may have some tough decisions to make.
Perhaps the little one was still shaken up and therefore seen as weakened.

Often the weaker ones are picked on because the older, strong chickens see it as chickens that might die are eating up our resources, and us, the strong ones, need the food and water to survive.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I agree with making a run inside the run for them.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Often the weaker ones are picked on because the older, strong chickens see it as chickens that might die are eating up our resources, and us, the strong ones, need the food and water to survive.

That reminds me of the song---"Only The Strong Survive" again that's why I do not mix.

 

[ecwetzel]

Ugh, it just kills me because they were all coexisting so nicely together the past 6 weeks. The chicks were free-ranging with the mom, the chicks were sleeping with the bigger hens. All was well and it required no extra effort on our part.

They still all seem to be sleeping nicely together, if I can get the little chick into the coop before our bully comes in to go to sleep. Should I just separate them during the day?

 

[PD-Riverman]

Ugh, it just kills me because they were all coexisting so nicely together the past 6 weeks. The chicks were free-ranging with the mom, the chicks were sleeping with the bigger hens. All was well and it required no extra effort on our part.

They still all seem to be sleeping nicely together, if I can get the little chick into the coop before our bully comes in to go to sleep. Should I just separate them during the day?

You will just have to see what happens!! Might work out!! Good Luck!

 

[Mrs. K]

I think if they were getting along, they will again, pull the bully and put her in the little pen for a bit, let her see the rest of the flock being ok with the chick.

I really don't separate birds from the flock, it causes more problems than it solves.

Mrs K