Lost My Flock - How to Replace??

[Amy Kurtenbach]

Hello - I'm new to this forum and haven't had a chance to introduce myself but I need advice.

Until last night, we had 6 free-range laying hens on our little farm in Maryland. Someone was usually home and about during the day so we let them free-range around the property and we locked them up at night. They had a very happy life until I stupidly forgot to lock their coop last night and woke up to find a massacre around the yard. I'm really heart-broken because I had grown to love those little girls each with their own funny little personality. They were really friendly. My first thought was to try and replace them before my kids found out so they wouldn't be heart-broken like me. This was our first flock that we raised from chicks so I'm guessing that won't be so easy based on what I've read with the need to quarantine and introduce new chickens to one another slowly. In my state of panic, I had envisioned running around trying to collect 2 dark red, 2 light red and 2 black chickens to avoid telling my kids that I killed their chickens. I guess it' a lesson they'll need to learn at some point any way.

So, my questions are...

1) will I ever be able to free-range chickens around our farm again during the day or will whatever got them always be back now that he knows where the smorgasbord is? Is there something we can do to help avoid this? My husband build a really secure coop and area for them but we don't use any additional electric fencing when they are free-ranging and we only have a little dog.

2) any suggestions on the best way to get going with a new flock? I was planning on getting more chicks in the Spring but I am so use to chickens in my yard and enjoying their eggs that I don't want to wait.

 

[N F C]

Sorry for the loss of your flock. I'm glad you didn't try to replace them without letting the kids know what happened...kids are smarter than a lot of people think and they would have noticed.

If you don't want to wait until spring to get more chicks, you could find some point-of-lay girls on the buy-sell-trade forum here on BYC. You need 20 posts to participate but that number is easy enough to get.

As to whether you'll be able to free range in the future, that's up to you, just realize there is always a risk of losing them. You could try supervised free range where they only go out when an adult is around to keep an eye on them (even that's no guarantee a watchful predator won't get one).

Best of luck to you and thanks for joining us here on BYC!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Always risks in free ranging. Chickens are pretty good at keeping alert, running away, and hiding. The risk is completely up to you, I lose one or two birds a year and accept that. As you've already witnessed the night is when chickens are defenseless and one predator can wipe out your entire flock if the birds are not locked in every night. As blind as we are at night and completely vulnerable to night vision predators.

Craigslist has all sorts of birds available from weeks old to years old.

 

[RonP]

So sorry for your loss. Many feel your pain.

I have had chickens for more years than I care to admit. I was constantly battling mother nature. There were many losses on both sides…

I eliminated my offensive by escalating my defense.

My run is as secure as my coop now, the birds are confined but the birds are safe.
Most importantly to me, I can sleep with both eyes closed…

 

[Daddy rooster]

A few years ago I had a fox that kept getting mine until I finally gave up on free range an caged them completely in.no more worries but now I free rage again an have a stream separating my property an so far all I have is hawk that stalks them from time to time.they let me know when it is out there an I run it off.

 

[Sara Ranch]

*hugs*

The folks that lived here before me lost a lot of animals (including chickens) to an unknown predator(s). They had a livestock guardian animal too.

I kept my chickens in the sunroom for a month or so before I moved them outside. I was hoping that the predator(s) that were here before would realize the animals were all gone and not come back. (It worked for me.)

Now, I have a lot of animals and I know predators are back. I am outside a lot. I think that helps.

And there is a lot of ground cover/hiding places - that helps.

It sounds like your chickens were attacked at night. Different ball game. I try (but don't always succeed) to get everyone head counted and locked up BEFORE sunset. If someone is missing at head count, I still close up - no need to risk the rest of the flock. Then I go looking. Sometimes I find them. Sometimes I don't. The next morning they turn up. And then they are ALWAYS in the coop before sunset OR where I can see them and carry them in. If time is tight, I might close up and come back later to do a head count.

As for replacing the chickens & the kids -- if it was me, I would tell them the truth. You forgot to lock up the coop and a predator got in and killed the chickens.

It could be a lesson to them about responsibility, chores, consequences, & forgiveness. They might take on the task of closing up the coop. Dunno their ages. They might remind you to close up the coop.

Replacing the chickens now or later? You can find full grown chickens available on this website, at bird swaps, in the Valley Trader (which I think is available in MD), on Craigslist, and on Facebook (so I am told).

Yes, you should quarantine them for at least 4 full weeks. If none of the chickens survived the attack last night, then you could put them in the coop/run.

You probably should treat them for worms and coccidious (can be done at the same time.) Once that is done, give them vitamins to boost their immune system.

It's stressful for the birds to be rehomed. I adopt a lot of animals that need new forever homes (mostly roosters, but hens as well). The new hens may lay right away and then stop. Or they may not lay for a time before starting up again. You are also heading into molting and winter seasons.

Lots to think about.

*hugs*

 

[AllenK RGV]

If you aren't after show quality you can also try your local craigslist that is probably the fastest option if you wanted a flock in a rush. Also if your entire flock is gone there would be no need to quarantine. @Sara Ranch Woludn't a night time security light also better assist a defenceless flock avoid predation?

 

[apryl29]

I had posted my cockerel in the local newspaper so you may look there for chicks/chickens, but the man who took him said he checks craigslist often to find people selling/ giving away birds. If you don't want to go that route there are many hatcheries that ship chicks & sometimes laying pullets, but the laying pullets often expensive. I don't know where you're located, but I would first look for what hatchery is close to you and consider ordering from there. You can order from Tractor Supply, but I will warn you that the hatchery they ship from is located in Iowa. I ordered from them in the early spring and most of the chicks in my shipment didn't make it, but I'm in Ohio and it took several days for them to get here. Which is why I suggest looking to see where the closest hatchery is located and ordering from them.
I had one bird who I didn't get put in one night and something got her. We assume a coyote. I told my kids, but since they weren't home I was able to leave out the part where it was my fault, though they blamed me anyway. After that I kept the chickens in for about 2 weeks. I usually don't let my birds out unless someone is there to supervise (they are at my parent's house), but have left them for up to a 1/2 hr when necessary. They have a fairly large run though they've eaten all the grass it lets them go outside, dig in the dirt, and have extra space while being safe and protected.

 

[getaclue]

Welcome to BYC. I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Hello - I'm new to this forum and haven't had a chance to introduce myself but I need advice.

Until last night, we had 6 free-range laying hens on our little farm in Maryland. Someone was usually home and about during the day so we let them free-range around the property and we locked them up at night. They had a very happy life until I stupidly forgot to lock their coop last night and woke up to find a massacre around the yard. I'm really heart-broken because I had grown to love those little girls each with their own funny little personality. They were really friendly. My first thought was to try and replace them before my kids found out so they wouldn't be heart-broken like me. This was our first flock that we raised from chicks so I'm guessing that won't be so easy based on what I've read with the need to quarantine and introduce new chickens to one another slowly. In my state of panic, I had envisioned running around trying to collect 2 dark red, 2 light red and 2 black chickens to avoid telling my kids that I killed their chickens. I guess it' a lesson they'll need to learn at some point any way.

So, my questions are...

1) will I ever be able to free-range chickens around our farm again during the day or will whatever got them always be back now that he knows where the smorgasbord is? Is there something we can do to help avoid this? My husband build a really secure coop and area for them but we don't use any additional electric fencing when they are free-ranging and we only have a little dog.

2) any suggestions on the best way to get going with a new flock? I was planning on getting more chicks in the Spring but I am so use to chickens in my yard and enjoying their eggs that I don't want to wait.

Amy we have probably all left the door open at night. I have done it once and thank you mother nature it didn't cost me near as dear as it cost you. I skated by with a lesson learned I had closed them into the run thinking I would be back later as it was still light out and the boys weren't ready and I didn't feel like running them in. Turned on a movie and completely forgot. I had palpitations when I saw the coop in the morning and did the fastest head count imaginable. Wondering all the while what predator could move the concrete cinder block and undo my locks til I just accepted it was me. I really had mentally ticked off in my mind that they were in for the night.