help....advice asap please

[92caddy]

I would block it off for the night to keep other critters out for the night, then open it in the morning. If she is safe and makes it back home, she may go back to the eggs. Im hoping she does.

We had a hen leave her eggs for a day and half before we knew it, we put em under another hen and they ALL hatched...................Good luck..............

 

[klf73]

thanks, you all made me feel better and not so guilty about going to bed. I have been out a couple times since but don't even hear anything. She is a lf araucana and these skunks aren't huge so there is no way they ran carrying her that fast. When I heard the noise I thought an opossum or some kind of weasel had her. I don't think the skunk had time to mess with her eggs. I made tons of noise then ran into the house to grab a flashlight. After I got him out of there I went in and got pants on before going through the woods (I'm sure it would have been a funny site if any of my neighbors were out late cuz the screen house isnt' far from the road). good night all and thanks again. I will update in the morning, hopefully a happy one

 

[klf73]

good news is she is out there, bad news is she hasn't gone back. It was still blocked off when I went out and she had walked past it so I don't know if she was planning on going back and couldn't get in or if she didn't want to go back at all

. I opened it up and she hasn't been back there yet to even see it opened. I will let the other hens out in a few minutes and maybe their interest will make her interested? They always try to get back there but they are bigger than her and can't fit...

 

[fancbrd4me02]

After last night, I think it would be a bad idea to have any hens set those eggs in that location. The skunk will be back. I would toss the eggs or put them in my bator. I wouldn't want my hen sitting that nest and waiting for the skunk to come back. You will have the same situation as last night, but might loose a hen this time.

 

[klf73]

well, normally there is a 4x6 board held in place with huge patio blocks to keep her safe. My son forgot to secure her. I can't reach the eggs or her. I tried getting her to come to me this morning but was unsuccessful. I would have to dig a big hold under my screen house(it is a wooden building) and then try not to be attacked by her. As much as I don't want her there(actually I didn't want her to set yet as she is supposed to go in a pen with my araucana roo, not the ameraucana roo she has been free ranging with

) I don't really think there is much to do.....

eta- she is back on the nest

 

[fancbrd4me02]

If you can make it really secure, I guess you can leave it. Or, you could prepare a safe nest spot and move her & the eggs to it. I move my broodies all the time, so it might work. Is the barricade for this nest strong enough to keep a raccoon out? I know this is a skunk, but there could be all kinds of predators where you live. That's what I would worry about...Perhaps you can tell that I have had a bad incident or two with broodies in the yard encountering predators...Ended badly for the hens....