I lost three Ameraucana chicks....

[remuda1]

To this creep.

These were chicks that I had placed under a super broody Brown Leghorn hen. What I'm wondering is whether or not I could go get three more to put under her or not. She accepted the first chicks with no problems after sitting for only a couple of days. I put them under her in two shifts and it didn't seem to phase her a bit.

If this is possible, would it be all right if the new chicks are younger than these? The ones I have already are two weeks old. Any insight would be appreciated.

And yes, the snake is dead and there is no longer any snake access to the coop I found it in.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

So sorry for your loss. That's terrible! Isn't that a copperhead snake? I don't know if it will work or not. I'd sure give it a try though. Glad you found where the snake was getting in the coop and now it's gone! Snakes are good in their own placebbut when they want to invade on us, it's time they left!

 

[remuda1]

Thanks RedBarn, it's a rat snake. Copperheads are generally thicker and they'll have more triangular heads. Rat snakes can climb just about anything. Ive even seen them climb a brick wall and have seen them thirty feet up in a tree looking for birds nests. I knew whatever had gotten them had to still be in there since there was no way that it could eat them and get back out (too fat to fit theough the hole). There were no feathers, no sign of struggle, nothing. It probably crawled right under the hen while they were sleeping. I found it under the hay bedding of the coop. Made me so mad......

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'm so sorry.

Is your hen still sitting? If so, you could certainly try to give her new chicks. Worse case, it doesn't work out and you stick them in with the 2 week old chicks you are brooding.

 

[remuda1]

Hi Happy, she's (the hen) bringing the chicks out every morning so I guess you're right, she's no longer sitting. I guess I'll just leave things as they are and let her just raise these three. I don't have any in a brooder now and lol, don't really want any in a brooder . I only went and got the six so that I could break her broodiness. Thanks for pointing out that (seemingly) obvious fact, lol! Sometimes the most obvious things are the ones I miss