Mother hen has disappeared, leaving 8 day old chicks orphaned!

[elfarny]

I have 8, 8day old chicks suddenly orphaned ( this is her third hatch and she has never left chicks before. I saw a hawk after I found the chicks alone so that could be the culprit) . They have a separate coop that comes inside at night, but mom has been there to keep them warm. They have been following her around, free range since day 4.

I have 4 other hens and a rooster....One of those hens (I know which one) killed 2 chicks before I got them out of the main coop. I figure that I must now have a run for the chicks until they are older and can join the flock , but my biggest concern is keeping them warm/not too warm.

any suggestions?

 

[Y N dottes]

so now that your broody hen is gone you will have to take her place for the chicks. use a heat lamp to keep them warm enough. have it so if they are cold they can go to the heat to warm up, and if they are too warm they can move away from the lamp. you will have to wait till they are big enough to let them alone with the older chickens.

 

[elfarny]

Thanks, I need to figure something out for tonight. They were wrangled (not too easy to catch terrified chicks in amongst the lilacs) and now are resting in the "pod" that is their nursery coop. They are not huddling, and the day is fairly warm so I guess they are ok for the moment. I'm pretty sure I am not a very good broody....they will not get the training they need and the transitions will be a lot harder!

 

[Y N dottes]

yes, it will definitely be harder....that's the advantage of a broody. im sorry she disappeared.

 

[rc4u]

if its warm jsut make a little hut with burlap covered so they can go in there when cool ...my grampa never used lites or anything just used straw and made a indentation and few sticks over that and burlap then straw over the top and they made it thru winter just fine...jeff

 

[blucoondawg]

A heat lamp or plate style brooder heater is the surest way to keep them warm, if you use a 250 watt heat lamp keep it around 18 inches off the floor that should give you plenty of heat in the center and the chicks can move away if it is too warm or you can raise the light a little.

If it is warm enough where you keep them they may be able to keep eachother warm too but make sure they aren't huddling too badly to crush or smother any that get caught on the bottom of the pile

 

[chookenqueen1]

I have actually just used a 40watt bulb in a desk lamp and that has worked just as well... The chicks are a bit more hardy now and as long as they have water and food they should be fine.. Good luck!!