Lost our first chicken

[babyrnlc]

We enclosed the bottom part of our coop to make a second one. We had the two br chicks (2 months old) in there. I thought we had it good. WE had a spring hinges and latches on the nest boxes, but my moms dog opened the nest box and got one of the chicks. I was so mad. She knew too. She is an australlian cattle dog and very smart. I did not think she would do it.

I spent the whole afternoon redoing the nest boxes, and unless she chews through the wood, she is not getting in. Plus my mom is keeping her in their house or the side yard.

I feel so bad though. I am the one that built the nest box. I made sure it was secure enough that the chickens could not get out, but I was not too worried about predators, because my dog kept them away.

The other chick has become even sweeter. While I was redoing the nest box, she kept hopping on my lap (even with the drill going). I had to keep putting her back in the coop. (WE had the dogs locked inside). I feel bad because she is alone in there now. She is not quite ready to go with the big girls and she is too big to go in the brooder with the 3 week olds. She gets along great with the other chicks, does not pick on them at all, but they are not feathered enough to go outside without a light.

Do I need to get another pullet, or will she be ok for a few more weeks until these girls get bigger?

 

[terrilhb]

I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[feather and mountain man]

So sorry to hear that.

 

[theFox]

Get her a mirror, a fuzzy toy, and small toss away portable radio for some "noise".

You need to quarantine any new birds so she'll be without a buddy for awhile anyway.

 

[babyrnlc]

Quote:
We thought about getting another pullet from the guy that sold us these. Would I still need to quarantine? It has only been 2 weeks.

So the changes in the coop have worked. The dog has not been able to get in. She has not had much access to the pen though, we only let her in the back yard when we are watching.

The other chick is so sweet. She comes to me every time I open the coop. She tries to get out and jump in my lap. She may think I am mommy lol.

 

[theFox]

Quote:
We thought about getting another pullet from the guy that sold us these. Would I still need to quarantine? It has only been 2 weeks.

So the changes in the coop have worked. The dog has not been able to get in. She has not had much access to the pen though, we only let her in the back yard when we are watching.

The other chick is so sweet. She comes to me every time I open the coop. She tries to get out and jump in my lap. She may think I am mommy lol.

That would depend on what the other guy has done with his flock, if he has added any new birds or had any signs of any illness in any of his other birds you would need to quarantine otherwise you could chance that there is nothing about to show up.

It is best to quarantine, but they are your birds.

 

[babyrnlc]

Quote:
We thought about getting another pullet from the guy that sold us these. Would I still need to quarantine? It has only been 2 weeks.

So the changes in the coop have worked. The dog has not been able to get in. She has not had much access to the pen though, we only let her in the back yard when we are watching.

The other chick is so sweet. She comes to me every time I open the coop. She tries to get out and jump in my lap. She may think I am mommy lol.

That would depend on what the other guy has done with his flock, if he has added any new birds or had any signs of any illness in any of his other birds you would need to quarantine otherwise you could chance that there is nothing about to show up.

It is best to quarantine, but they are your birds.

It may not be an issue.

I have her in a sectioned off part of the coop and she can go out into the run, but the big chickens cannot go into her coop. Well I went out to check on her and she was not in her coop. I opened the top coop where the big girls sleep and she was up in there eating food and acting like she belonged. The big girls were indifferent. She also was not cheaping, but clucking (yesterday she was still cheaping). My chickie has grown up. Literally over night lol

We are hoping to get 3 pullets from our 3 week old chicks, they can go in the bottom coop and everything will be good and even.

 

[Judy]

They are considered fully feathered at 8 weeks and should not need a light any more.

 

[CityClucks]

Quote:
That would depend on what the other guy has done with his flock, if he has added any new birds or had any signs of any illness in any of his other birds you would need to quarantine otherwise you could chance that there is nothing about to show up.

It is best to quarantine, but they are your birds.

It may not be an issue.

I have her in a sectioned off part of the coop and she can go out into the run, but the big chickens cannot go into her coop. Well I went out to check on her and she was not in her coop. I opened the top coop where the big girls sleep and she was up in there eating food and acting like she belonged. The big girls were indifferent. She also was not cheaping, but clucking (yesterday she was still cheaping). My chickie has grown up. Literally over night lol

We are hoping to get 3 pullets from our 3 week old chicks, they can go in the bottom coop and everything will be good and even.

I'm glad the younger one seems to have integrated herself! Sorry for your loss.

 

[babyrnlc]

Quote:
She hasn't had a light for a week. (well almost a week, since it has warmed up.) I just had them separated from the big girls. But she seems to have decided she doesn't want to be alone. She had access to them, but they did not to her. She can still run away into "her" coop. I will keep the small door on until I know they are just fine and wont pick on her.