Day 18 crack

[jhebert9]

If you're worried about it, you can put a little candle wax along the crack to seal it. I've done this with a crack probably also around day 18, and the chick successfully hatched a few days later!

 

[Aunt ruth]

Given that there is no secure spot on the ground, I guess I will put the crate there and hope she will go in it.

 

[AmericanMom]

Given that there is no secure spot on the ground, I guess I will put the crate there and hope she will go in it.

Is that coop completely walled and chicken wired? It looks so in the pictures, If so that's what I mean by secure... We don't have coons or possums so my coop is not completely closed off, it opens up onto the 1/3 acre they free range, my other broody takes her chicks into a dog house outside the main coop for the night

 

[AmericanMom]

Given that there is no secure spot on the ground, I guess I will put the crate there and hope she will go in it.

Also she may very well try and at first go back up to that box, but once she realizes the babies cannot she will go somewhere else with them... She may in fact not need a box at all and just hunker down in a corner with them under her... Hens are funny that way, no matter what we do they always seem to do it different

 

[Aunt ruth]

No, it's fencing. Large enough for chicks to get through. Plus the are spots that the birds have made dirt baths near and the wood doesn't touch the ground. I can reach my hand in. We don't have many coons or possums but there are a lot of stray cats that may find a peeping chick very tempting.

 

[AmericanMom]

No, it's fencing. Large enough for chicks to get through. Plus the are spots that the birds have made dirt baths near and the wood doesn't touch the ground. I can reach my hand in. We don't have many coons or possums but there are a lot of stray cats that may find a peeping chick very tempting.

Well if its any comfort, The 1/3 acre set aside for the chickens has chicken wire but its the larger wire and the chicks can be found at anytime in our neighbors yards, they have dogs and cats but momma hangs out close to the fence and watches, if she see's something (her and I saw the cat at the same time) she will give a warning call and they come right back.. I am not saying you wouldn't lose a chick, I have lost a few in the past, but I just figure its the way it is. The strong and smart learn quickly to hear and respond to her. She will keep them close for a f few days but within a couple weeks they will start wondering further from her.

I know it sounds harsh, but I am all for free ranging my flock of 42+... I do not separate the hen and chicks from the flock after they hatch, I do have one hen that never does well in the coop hatching so she gets moved to the dog house next to the coop with her own run, but two days after the hatch I remove the fencing and allow her to rejoin the flock.

 

[Aunt ruth]

I can't free range due to the fact I live in a neighborhood with a lot of hawks and loose dogs. I only have three bantams. They are all pets so it a big deal to lose one.

 

[AmericanMom]

I hope you get a great hatch! I love the new chicks and watching them with the hen is absolutely the best, most comical and relaxing (is that possible?) thing in the world for me.. My family knows if they cannot find me to look out back of the property because I could stand out there for hours watching them all interact.. Funniest thing I ever saw was when one of the geese came over to investigate the new chicks .. I never knew a hen could ride a goose but boy did she...That poor goose ran screaming all over the yard with the momma hen on its back.. It would have been one that would have won a prize on funniest videos had I had a camera

I must leave the discussion as its Friday and yard sales are happening without me all over our city

Good luck and remember, we like lots of pics of the babies

 

[AmericanMom]

I can't free range due to the fact I live in a neighborhood with a lot of hawks and loose dogs. I only have three bantams. They are all pets so it a big deal to lose one.

Smaller chicken wire in the run, fix the places they can get out and cover it all (hawk proof) I cannot guarantee you wont lose one or two but it helps to secure it... I've lost 2 month old pullets to hawks...Its frustrating but the way it is around here with my set up.. they learn pretty quick to listen to the roosters warning.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

No, it's fencing. Large enough for chicks to get through. Plus the are spots that the birds have made dirt baths near and the wood doesn't touch the ground. I can reach my hand in. We don't have many coons or possums but there are a lot of stray cats that may find a peeping chick very tempting.

Your Broody will take care of any preditors. I had two broodies hatch 8 and they contiued to free range with the flock a day or two after the babies hatched.