Help with what to do now!

[nnbreeder]

The best thig to do would be to go with your plan and once the chicks get some size on them give them supervised visits so you can see just how the older hen acts.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
While you're working to fortify your coop, check the Buy/Sell/Trade section of the forums, also the Where are you section to see if anyone else is close to you. Perhaps you can get the birds you want for a better price from a BYCer. Don't dismiss the idea of mixed-breed chickens, they're just as nice as purebreds, come in unique color patterns, & have hybrid vigor.

Wish you lived closer, I have lovely young pullets at point-of-lay for $20.

 

[ZZsBabiez]

First off..

I'm so sorry for your loss.. I know how hard that is to take.. I can't imagine how the kids are taking it! So sad!

Maby you can ask around the local farmers, check Craigslist.. for a laying hen or two.. For me, hens are much easier to integrate if there is no roo.. it's not quite as vicious...

Would it be possible to house them with a divider, so they can see each other for a period of time before actually living together?

Good luck!

 

[TGM]

Thanks for all the great ideas.

I am building another coop because we have fallen in love with chickens, and our new flock will be larger. The current coop is very secure, I just got lazy and left the dang door open. Did it for 4 months without any issues so i guess we were just very lucky!

I took your advise and found several places around Denver with chicks and 3-12 month old hens. Prices seem to be about $3 for the chicks and $10-20 for the older hens.

The only hesitation with getting the older hens is how they will act with the kids. They played with the chicks every day, so now as hens the girls would walk outside and the hens would run up to them and liked being held. I'm not sure if we would find that if we got older hens that had to get used to us.

What do you think? Would farm raised hens without alot of human interaction have a problem becomming social with my girls?

 

[wendid1]

I'm so sorry for you loss. I would go for a hen as young as possible. We have gotten several hens 2-4 months old. Although they have all been skiddish at first. after a few weeks of (lots of) people love, all but one is now as tame as can be.

 

[Bizzybirdy]

Sounds like a racoon visited your poor chickens. They rip off heads and body parts. They also kill cats!

so good thing you kept yours inside.

What do you think? Would farm raised hens without alot of human interaction have a problem becomming social with my girls?

I would start with several young chicks (around a month old)

again...they grow up really fast. A divider will keep the older chicken from picking on them. That way they will be tame like the others and more fun for the children. Maybe get a few older ones to keep the hen occupied.

Make your coop really predator proof and make sure to lock the chicks up every night. Lots of suggestions on this BYC site. Most important do not use chicken wire. It is a joke to racoons.​

 

[darbella]

Quote:
Sounds like a racoon or possum. I had city ducks before and never saw any wildlife, then one night, being lazy about herding them onto the shed, same thing happened. as for introducing more chickens, you may want to get chicks that are a little older and itroduce them in a nutral place. I know when i go to the chicken swaps, when I bring my cages, all I purchase form different breeders get along cause i think they do not feel like someone new is invading their space. Good luck and I hope your daughters ar OK.

 

[farrier!]

Quote:
I was so surprised at how fun it was to have the chicks in a brooder in the house. I am sure your kids would be so much happier with chicks they raised themselves.

So sorry for their loss...