HELP please

[singlin]

Hi,

This AM we found our two laying hens slaughtered in the backyard. Not sure if it was a bobcat or coyote. But we now have 6 eggs they were sitting on under moist bedding and a heat lamp. We bought a incubator (HOVA BATOR) for them. HELP! My kids are so sad, these are our original chickens and they really wanted babies from them!
Advice.
Oh, advice on what to do with our distraught rooster too. He has been crowing non-stop since 4am...so over 8hrs. What do I do?

Thanks,

 

[slackwater]

That's awful - I feel for you! Not much you can do about the roo, but I think you're doing right by the eggs. Just make sure you've settled out the temp in the bator before you put them in there. How long 'til they're supposed to hatch?

 

[dianneS]

Just be careful that the eggs don't get too hot under the heat lamp. Good luck. Put them in the incubator after its had time to adjust the temp and it doesn't seem like its fluctuating much.

You may want to candle the eggs now and again in a few days to compare and see if they are continuing to develope.

I don't know what to tell you about the rooster. He'll get over it I suppose.

Were the chickens in a pen, or outside? Were they just killed or eaten. A bobcat, fox or coyote would eat them. Racoons and skunks will kill them and not eat them. Were any of the eggs missing? If so, it could have been a racoon or skunk just trying to get to the eggs. Could be the reason that the rooster is still alive??

 

[singlin]

What does candle the eggs mean? I am not sure how old they are the girls were moving them and hiding them! There are 3...I am guessing they are no more than a week old, if that. We quit collecting them about a week ago. They are pretty warm I hope we didn't cook them.

 

[ChicknCharm]

Oh my gosh, I am soooooo sorry for you and the kids. We are always so worried about loosing a hen...our kids have raised ours from chicks, too. I am a first time incubatorer (how is that for a made up word). We borrowed a Little Giant. It does not have humidity stats and you cannot "set" the temp. You fiddle with a dial until the temp evens out over at least 6 hours (per instructions). You may not have that long. Be sure you can check humidity, I think it should be about 50%. We bought a dial thing that displays both humidity and temp (about $9.00 at the hardware store...it is big so you can see it under the hood). Maybe get it up to about 99.5-ish and add the eggs and then monitor every few minutes to make sure there are no drastic changes? I am worried for the time you have to get them in the hova-bator. What does anyone else say? I know the experts are out there! Good luck, please keep us posted. Sincere sympathy, again.

 

[kid-n-chickens]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-DryIncubation.html this is a good page on how to incubate. Good Luck!

 

[IggiMom]

I am not familiar with the varmints that you have in Arizona. Here in WV the worst problem we have is raccoons. They are terrible.

Go to the pests and predators forum, and post. They may have some suggestions.

Almost everywhere, though, chickens need to be locked up at night to be safe. I can get away with letting mine free range during the day, although even then I have had problems with the neighbors' dogs.

Unless you have a LGD, though, you are almost surely going to have to keep your hens locked up in a secure coop, or they will always get killed.

See if you cannot find a nice hen or two for the poor roo. He will most likely drive you nuts if you don't!

I am so sorry for your loss.

Catherine