We just had the saddest morning. Rosie, who was raising a clutch of chicks, was found dead in the pen. I didn't see any sign of injury on her body and, aside from 2 little fluffs of feather, I didn't see any sign of a struggle. She was 6 years old.
Her chicks turned 3 weeks old this week so yesterday we had opened the door to her little broody pen so that she and the chicks could go out and explore the wider pen. The broody pen was inside the big pen so the other chickens were used to seeing the babies and everyone seemed to be getting along fine. My husband heard some squaking a couple of hours ago but nothing out of the ordinary.
I feel terrible thinking that I should have kept them in the little pen longer.
The chicks are back in the little pen but I am not sure what else to do for them. I was thinking of putting a water bottle in their house tonight to help them stay warm. Is there anything else that I can do?
Her chicks turned 3 weeks old this week so yesterday we had opened the door to her little broody pen so that she and the chicks could go out and explore the wider pen. The broody pen was inside the big pen so the other chickens were used to seeing the babies and everyone seemed to be getting along fine. My husband heard some squaking a couple of hours ago but nothing out of the ordinary.
I feel terrible thinking that I should have kept them in the little pen longer.
The chicks are back in the little pen but I am not sure what else to do for them. I was thinking of putting a water bottle in their house tonight to help them stay warm. Is there anything else that I can do?