Heartbroken, need advice

[Redguitar77]

Hi all, hoping for some advice. My favorite hen was killed tonight and I am completely destroyed - she was raising 3 chicks who are now 5 weeks old and 2 ducklings who are 6 weeks old. The chicks were still sleeping under her each night and she was an excellent protector and teacher for all 5 of them especially when it came to chasing away one of my other hens who pick on them. What do I do? They were all in the coop together but the chicks were in a nest box with Tabby and now she’s gone. Are they old enough to fend for themselves? I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to them but i also don’t want to cause a problem with them integrating with the flock.

Thanks in advance

 

[The Phantom]

Sorry!

 

[Chullicken]

I have no idea about ducks and what and when. However, at five-plus weeks chicks have begun to become young adults and should be close to getting a healthy feather coat. At that time, I'd recommend placing them in their own grow out pen until they become adults than do the usual methods for introduction into your existing flock. Chickens don't care anything about age, but they sure do care about size differences. Just have to take some steps to ensure they grow up just fine.

I understand the heartbreak, mine are pets and 'kids' to me...I don't keep them for eggs or any other reason. Every time I lose one, I feel like I die a little bit inside. But, everything works out in time and it makes me appreciate the ones I still have that much more.

 

[redranger209]

It depends on your climate. If it’s hot there, then they should be ok. I’d be more worried about whatever killed your hen. It’ll be back.

 

[bobbi-j]

They haven't been integrated yet? You can integrate chicks that age with the flock. Are they currently living where the rest of the flock has seen them and are used to their presence? If their current housing is adjoining the rest of the flock, you could open up the barrier between them, making the openings large enough for the chicks to go in and out, but too small for the adults. That gives the youngsters a safe place. Several BYCers will integrate chicks as young as 4 weeks or so. The adults don't seem to see them as as much of a threat to their resources (food, water, space) when they're still little. @aart and @lazy gardener I believe have done this. Hopefully they can explain it better than I can. I have also introduced 4-week old chicks to the flock without problems.

Several years ago,my broody was killed, leaving four 5-week old babies. But because she had been reintegrated with the flock when the babies were a week old, they were already an accepted part of the flock.

 

[TheYLWFlock]

How did the sweetheart die, if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[Redguitar77]

They have all been together since the chicks were a day old - I just worried that without momma, they’d be targets. They put themselves to bed in the nest box they’d shared with Tabby. All of my hens and the ducks seem very reserved tonight. I had a birthday party tonight and a small child saw the ducks in their water tub - it’s not deep, but she didn’t understand that chickens can’t swim and Tabby is a bantam Cochin who likes to be held, she dropped her in the water and by the time I saw what happened and after an hour of my cousin who was a vet tech working on her to try and get her back, it was hopeless. I’m so angry. I can’t even handle it.

 

[TheYLWFlock]

Oh I’m so sorry. That would be absolutely heartbreaking for me! Sometimes it’s hard to trust little children with birds... accidents can happen.

My heart goes out to you and Tabby.

 

[bobbi-j]

They have all been together since the chicks were a day old - I just worried that without momma, they’d be targets. They put themselves to bed in the nest box they’d shared with Tabby. All of my hens and the ducks seem very reserved tonight. I had a birthday party tonight and a small child saw the ducks in their water tub - it’s not deep, but she didn’t understand that chickens can’t swim and Tabby is a bantam Cochin who likes to be held, she dropped her in the water and by the time I saw what happened and after an hour of my cousin who was a vet tech working on her to try and get her back, it was hopeless. I’m so angry. I can’t even handle it.

If they're already integrated into the flock, you're way ahead of the game. They should be fine. The older ones may give them a peck here and there to teach them their place, but it shouldn't be bad. Make sure there is plenty of space if they don't free range, and some hiding places would be good as well. Lean a piece of plywood against the run fence, leaving both ends open so a chick doesn't get cornered. Put a pallet on cement blocks so the chicks can run under if they get in trouble. Things like that.

I hope you're not angry at the child - they don't know better, and without supervision will make mistakes.

 

[Foxslayer16]

They have all been together since the chicks were a day old - I just worried that without momma, they’d be targets. They put themselves to bed in the nest box they’d shared with Tabby. All of my hens and the ducks seem very reserved tonight. I had a birthday party tonight and a small child saw the ducks in their water tub - it’s not deep, but she didn’t understand that chickens can’t swim and Tabby is a bantam Cochin who likes to be held, she dropped her in the water and by the time I saw what happened and after an hour of my cousin who was a vet tech working on her to try and get her back, it was hopeless. I’m so angry. I can’t even handle it.

It's always worse when it's a kid or a dog sorry for your lose. I lost one of my chicks by a child slamming it's legs in the door.