help~ hen hatching outside the coop

[Kristenadelaide77]

Hi there... we just got some sheep in our paddock, and now that the grass is down I found a stray bantam (no idea where she came from!) sitting on eggs near the back, just in the long grass. They started hatching this morning, so far there are 4 super cute fluffy yellow chicks, all healthy and hopping around her. I've put some chick started and water just beside them.
I have absolutely no place to move her to - I have chicks and chickens of all ages free ranging/in different coops all over the show so I'm wondering if I can just leave here there in the grass. We are in NZ so there's not really much to worry about for predators, maybe other birds but that's about it. Weasels maybe but I haven't seen any on our property. My question is can I leave the chicks and the hen out there? Or should I try to find a place for them?? I have five 4 week old chicks in quite a big hutch, my best option would be to move her into there with them but she's very protective and aggressive and I'd be afraid she'd hurt the older chicks.
I should add it's summer here, but it's supposed to rain for the next ten days. I've put a kind of make shift cover on her for now, but it's a pretty crappy diy job.
Long confusing post, but hopefully you get the gist of it! Any advice is appreciated. Thanks guys!

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Hi there... we just got some sheep in our paddock, and now that the grass is down I found a stray bantam (no idea where she came from!) sitting on eggs near the back, just in the long grass. They started hatching this morning, so far there are 4 super cute fluffy yellow chicks, all healthy and hopping around her. I've put some chick started and water just beside them.
I have absolutely no place to move her to - I have chicks and chickens of all ages free ranging/in different coops all over the show so I'm wondering if I can just leave here there in the grass. We are in NZ so there's not really much to worry about for predators, maybe other birds but that's about it. Weasels maybe but I haven't seen any on our property. My question is can I leave the chicks and the hen out there? Or should I try to find a place for them?? I have five 4 week old chicks in quite a big hutch, my best option would be to move her into there with them but she's very protective and aggressive and I'd be afraid she'd hurt the older chicks.
I should add it's summer here, but it's supposed to rain for the next ten days. I've put a kind of make shift cover on her for now, but it's a pretty crappy diy job.
Long confusing post, but hopefully you get the gist of it! Any advice is appreciated. Thanks guys!

okay if u can, get her into a coop that is predator proof at the moments she sounds pretty at risk. Hawks will be after the baby chicks so if you have to get them into a coop or run and leave them in there. If you make i small predator is proof coop for her on her own if your worried about the other hens picking on her, but yes the best you can do is keep her and her chicks safe.
Good luck

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

okay if u can, get her into a coop that is predator proof at the moments she sounds pretty at risk. Hawks will be after the baby chicks so if you have to get them into a coop or run and leave them in there. If you make i small predator is proof coop for her on her own if your worried about the other hens picking on her, but yes the best you can do is keep her and her chicks safe.
Good luck

Or her picking on the chicks

 

[Shadrach]

I think you are right in not moving this hen and her chicks in with your others.
The first question is would you like to keep this hen and the chicks?
The greatest risk is predation. If you are unable to house this hen then there isn't much you can do.
I would be inclined to build her a very simple coop and see how the new hen and chicks interact with your existing flock. You don't say if you have roosters (?)
If this hen stays on your property eventually she will run into members of your existing flock. I would expect her to try to join one of your existing groups when the chicks are older.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

I think you are right in not moving this hen and her chicks in with your others.
The first question is would you like to keep this hen and the chicks?
The greatest risk is predation. If you are unable to house this hen then there isn't much you can do.
I would be inclined to build her a very simple coop and see how the new hen and chicks interact with your existing flock. You don't say if you have roosters (?)
If this hen stays on your property eventually she will run into members of your existing flock. I would expect her to try to join one of your existing groups when the chicks are older.

Ditto,

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

I think you are right in not moving this hen and her chicks in with your others.
The first question is would you like to keep this hen and the chicks?
The greatest risk is predation. If you are unable to house this hen then there isn't much you can do.
I would be inclined to build her a very simple coop and see how the new hen and chicks interact with your existing flock. You don't say if you have roosters (?)
If this hen stays on your property eventually she will run into members of your existing flock. I would expect her to try to join one of your existing groups when the chicks are older.

Perhaps she escaped from your neighbors or someone else so maybe ask if they own her! If no one says she is theirs then sure by all means if you want her take her