Mama hen killed. Advice needed.

[klb25]

A raccoon killed the mama hen. All four chicks survived. They are three weeks old today. Our overnight low temperature is around 70F/21C. Should I bring the chicks inside for supplemental heat, or keep them outside?

 

[DobieLover]

They'll be fine outside.
Was mom keeping them within the flock?

Was she killed during the day or did the coon break into your coop?

 

[FrostRanger]

Just address the security breech, the chicks will be fine

 

[klb25]

They'll be fine outside.
Was mom keeping them within the flock?

Was she killed during the day or did the coon break into your coop?

They were in a separate coop. A raccoon climbed on top of the attached run. Its weight was enough to push down the wiring, allowing it to slide into an opening. The mom backed the raccoon into a corner and made such noise for us to be alerted. We got out there and took care of the raccoon. We had no idea the mom was injured until finding her deceased this morning.

We rigged rope to better secure the run to the coop and let the manufacturer know it's a potential weak spot. The head manufacturer is studying the photos so they can hopefully design a latch or something to better secure that area.

Thank you for the advice. I'll keep an eye on the chicks and let them stay there. I'm on my way now to find a feather duster for them to tuck into.

 

[klb25]

Just address the security breech, the chicks will be fine

Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. I once had a broody hen abandon her 6 chicks after just 2 weeks. Mine all huddled together in a nest box, and during the day they foraged for food and water. Since they had been raised within the coop with the other chickens and rooster, the flock had already accepted them. Since yours were not with the flock, they should be kept separate until they are similar in size. Good luck, and I hope they survive.

 

[klb25]

Sorry for your loss. I once had a broody hen abandon her 6 chicks after just 2 weeks. Mine all huddled together in a nest box, and during the day they foraged for food and water. Since they had been raised within the coop with the other chickens and rooster, the flock had already accepted them. Since yours were not with the flock, they should be kept separate until they are similar in size. Good luck, and I hope they survive.

Thank you. They're in a separate coop but the adults wander around next to it daily, so they do see each other on a regular basis. Fingers crossed they do ok without the mama.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can they get to the young ones, or just see them through fencing?

 

[klb25]

Can they get to the young ones, or just see them through fencing?

They can't get to them. It's kind of a hardware cloth of sorts. They can see each other easily, there's just the wiring between them.