new chicks!Not sure what to do. *new! please chime in with opinions!**

[PunkinPeep]

I never get tired of seeing a mother hen raise chicks. It's so beautiful. God knew exactly what He was doing when he made chickens.

 

[emilysteng]

I need some opinions on what to do!!

Today I had a huge scare - thought a mongoose had gotten both the chicks. It's a long story, but the happy outcome is that they are fine and Casino, the great mom she is, had told them to hide and was trying to distract the mongoose. Then there were alot more mongoose sightings - once right under the shelf their nest box is on.

So for tonight, we brought up the big rabbit hutch and settled them in there to keep them safe. I was a little worried Casino wouldn't like being locked up, but I guess as long as her chicks are with her, she is ok.

My friend suggested we try to trap the mongoose. I am a big animal lover and don't want to kill anything - even if it's a mongoose who wouldn't hesitate to kill the chicks. But on the other hand, I really want to keep the chicks safe. Plus there are several of them. Don't even know how many.

Also, I feel like the chicks obviously won't be able to escape predators (fly into trees, etc) until they are much bigger. They're only truly safe in the cage, or if someone is watching them. But I want them to be free and self sufficient like their mom. I don't live at the nursery and don't go on the weekends. The owner usually only comes once on sunday afternoon.

So torn!! What would you do??? Please chime in with opinions! Thanks so much...

 

[PunkinPeep]

Is it a possible option for your or one of the other employees to take Casino and her chicks home and give them "normal" safe chicken quarters?

It's a really hard call, i know. But if she's going to be a "wild" chicken, then the risks are what they are. There's a good chance she'll teach her young to be very sly against predators, and there's also a good chance she'll lose at least one of her chicks in the process.

For me, it would be an either or situation. Either i give her a spot at the nursery and leave nature to its own means or i take her home and give her a safe place to live. But that's just because of the way my mind works. Anything in between seems very difficult.

 

[emilysteng]

Unfortunately, no one can take the chickens home. The nursery is the best place for them to live.

I'm still not sure what to do, but for now, I'm going to let them be free during the day, and keep them in the hutch at night. I'm going to have to go in on the weekend for them too.

I'm hoping this is a good compromise. During the day they can be normal wild chickens. And at night when they'd be sleeping anyways, at least they'll be in a safe place. Otherwise, where do you think she would take them to sleep? Somewhere in the woods on the ground - since the chicks can't get up high on anything?

No mongoose sightings today though. They stayed pretty close to the shed where the nest is all day.

I'm thinking in 6 weeks or so they'll be a pretty good size that they'll be able to fly and jump quite well. Then I'll probably feel OK with them being out and about all the time.

Here's such a cute picture of them today. At one point they were both up on mom's back, but my camera battery died!

 

[Maxie1101]

That picture of the chick on her mom's back is SO CUTE!!!!!! Good luck with taking care of them! You're wonderful for caring so much!

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
Yes, in the woods, or any place where she feels hidden and safe. They'll be able to roost in low places at about 2 weeks. Those little wings get to working pretty quickly. Although, if she feels safe there, there's a chance she'll keep going back to the hutch.

I love it when the babies get up on the mama's back. I've only seen it in person a couple of times. It's so cute!