Help...adopted stray Hen and three Chicks!

[Newby3]

Hello,

My Neighbour has a dozen or so free range chickens and one of his hens has made a home just outside of my horses shelter, and hatched three chicks on Friday. I have asked my neighbour to come and get the chicks and put them in his coop but he says he has no room, and that they will be fine on their own. Last year 5 or so chicks and their mother were killed in my back yard...I am trying to avoid this from happening again. I have captured the mother and three chicks in a large dog cage. What do I need to feed them? I have been offering them an assorment of fruit and veggies and some sweet feed, and of course water. I have no idea about chickens and quite frankly am a bit afraid of them...lol If this hen is wild, will she ever come around and be freindly? Can I tell what sex the chicks are by looking at them? oh so many questions....

 

[Amb3r]

Seriously think twice before what you are getting into. It should be a beta hen hence relocating to your home, and 9/10 chance the hen would take its family back to the original coop in 2 to 3 weeks. You can buy the hen from your neighbor but it might want to return to its flock after raising the chicks. Your neighbor is a prick, I am sorry.

Grass seeds/bird feeder seeds are good. You can finely chop onions and boiled egg together and feed them. Since there are only 3+1 birds, you'd only need 1/2 egg.

Chicken are super adorable, I hope you have a good experience with them.

 

[Georgia Nana]

I thought that onions were bad for chickens

 

[bluegrasslady]

I'd get some chick starter at the feed store and give them that, won't hurt the hen to have a little extra protein. The fruit and veggies are probably appreciated by them as well but if you are keeping them confined you will need to provide chick grit if feeding them things other than chick starter. If you let them run about then they eat all sorts of wild stuff and take care of the grit issue themselves.

 

[bluegrasslady]

Eventually you will be able to sex them by looking at them and if you spend time with them and hand feed they may well become friendly.