Need help with chick!

[PorchChickens3]

Yesterday, our family's 6 Rhode Island Red chicks were outside in a covered pen. We were checking on them frequently, but unfortuantely something killed 3 of them. We think it was either a raccoon or a possum, as only the heads were missing. One of our remaining chicks has dried blood on one of her ears, and we think it might be damaged. She also does not seem to be eating. Her weight is about 9.6 ounces. When we hold the other 2, they peep, but when we hold her she is totally quiet unless turned upside down. We don't know what to do!

 

[PorchChickens3]

Can someone please help?

 

[Dixie-Doll-House]

They may very well be traumatized. Eating drinking? Daytime attack or night? How frequent is frequent....Frequent for me is at max every ten minutes without fail when they are in the run during the day because of age. Have you looked to re-enforce run? Fixed any obvious weak spots? As for the chick itself bundle it up maybe, with a little extra TLC and encourage it to eat and drink....its what I'd do anyways.

 

[PorchChickens3]

She wasn't eating for most of today so we tried hand feeding her with a mash made from her water and food. I have now seen her eating a couple of times and drinking once. We think whatever it was attempted to kill her but couldn't. It was a daytime attack. We knew something was wrong because our dog was whining like crazy. Yes, we were checking on them about every 10 minutes. We have since moved them back to their brooder on the back porch. The chicks are a little over 3 weeks old. Just this afternoon, we found a snake on the porch, but far away from the brooder. We have removed it. Do you think blocking the dog door will keep snakes out?

 

[Dixie-Doll-House]

Are you able to share some pics of the run they were in and the place where you have them now?

 

[PorchChickens3]

The outdoor pen was fully covered when they were out there.

 

[Dixie-Doll-House]

The weld on those outdoor panels is more than plenty big enough for a predator to reach in.....probably coon. IMHO.....Hardware cloth what you have like on the top of the brooder box for starters around sides and top and bottom for good measure. I wish you all the luck and love I can send for you and your traumatized chick. You must think like a predator to protect your chicks from them the best you can. Don't open an all you can eat buffet if you can help it.

 

[PorchChickens3]

Ok thank you so much for the help!

 

[PorchChickens3]

The weld on those outdoor panels is more than plenty big enough for a predator to reach in.....probably coon. IMHO.....Hardware cloth what you have like on the top of the brooder box for starters around sides and top and bottom for good measure. I wish you all the luck and love I can send for you and your traumatized chick. You must think like a predator to protect your chicks from them the best you can. Don't open an all you can eat buffet if you can help it.

She's gone.