- Jan 31, 2011
- 23
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Ok, bear with me here. New to chickens, having gotten my first chicks in March of this year. We ended up with 6 hens and a rooster. About 3 weeks ago one of our hens disappeared (they free range). We didn't find any remains, but assumed she had been gotten by a predator. Last week DH thought he saw her out with the other hens. I declared that he was nuts.
Today, she reappeared - with 11 what appear to be very healthy babies!!! Shortly thereafter we found her nest - with 13 un-hatched eggs, 2 dead babies and one baby that was still alive but I don't think will make it. OMG - what the heck do we do now?? Mama seems to love her babies to the point of attacking us when we tried to come near them. Finally with some gloves we got her and corralled the babies.
I assumed they should not go into the coop with the other 5 hens and rooster so we made a pen for her and the babies in our cellar, covered the floor with plywood and then wood chips and then put everyone in. Mama immediately got comfy and all the babies crawled under her. I bought some starter feed for the babies - I assume it will be okay for mama to eat that?
Any other advice would be appreciated!!
Today, she reappeared - with 11 what appear to be very healthy babies!!! Shortly thereafter we found her nest - with 13 un-hatched eggs, 2 dead babies and one baby that was still alive but I don't think will make it. OMG - what the heck do we do now?? Mama seems to love her babies to the point of attacking us when we tried to come near them. Finally with some gloves we got her and corralled the babies.
I assumed they should not go into the coop with the other 5 hens and rooster so we made a pen for her and the babies in our cellar, covered the floor with plywood and then wood chips and then put everyone in. Mama immediately got comfy and all the babies crawled under her. I bought some starter feed for the babies - I assume it will be okay for mama to eat that?
Any other advice would be appreciated!!