Not sure where to put this

[KonaHI]

We live in Hawaii and have feral chickens, different from backyards but probably similar.

We had a hen disappear a few weeks ago and I speculated she was sitting on eggs. I was right and she showed up with 4 chicks mid last week. All was good for several days with her tending to her babies, showing them where we feed them, etc.

Then on Thursday (Christmas) I heard dogs barking in our driveway, very rural, very unusual! I immediately went out, saw no dogs, no chickens. There was not much I could do so I came back in. My partner went out a few minutes later and saw 2 dogs walking up our driveway, no chickens, no hurry.

But we have not seen the mother hen since. I think the dogs killed her but we have also not found a body. There were 4 chicks. I am well aware that at so young they are unlikely to survive without mom. But they did survive for several days and there is still one alive as of late this afternoon. We are in Hawaii so it does not get super cold at night. Yesterday I tried to lure three (at least) survivors into a pen so I could provide a heating pad and protection but they were having none of it.

I had hoped that one of her sister hens would take over but they showed no interest. The rooster tolerated them but showed no interest in protecting them.

Is this normal? I'm resigned at this point that the last chick will not survive. But I'm trying to understand why chicken flocks would not adopt and protect orphans.

 

[BDutch]

We live in Hawaii and have feral chickens, different from backyards but probably similar.

Yes they are very similar. The feral chickens on Hawaii are descendants from backyard chickens.

Chickens do not care about other hens chicks. If chicks try to steal their food, they get attacked. A broody protects her chicks. If she is no longer around the chicks have a hard time.

Thats why people who have chicks out of an incubator use a brooder /keep chicks in a separated space. If the owner wants to add chicks to an existing flock, they wait until the chicks are at least a few weeks old and very carefully introduce the chicks (see dont touch method). Many wait until they are about 16 weeks old (point of lay).