I rely on my peahen to keep the owls away.. If there is an owl in the yard or near the yard she starts honking and fussing until it flies away.. Guess owls do not like grumpy peafowl yelling at them..
Sorry about your chicks! I know how much that really sucks!
I think it is so funny when hens fuss over eggs. Last year I had three hens fighting over one nesting box.. Finally one gave up but the other two came to an arrangement. One would sit on the eggs while the other ate, puttered around then switch so the other could go out.. It worked great and all but one egg hatched..
I sure wish I could go to this one but I don't get off work until 4 pm and it is quite a drive for me.
The dead chicken around the neck did not work for me.. Plus it was really gross...
Hens make the best incubators.. I gave up on using an incubator several years ago..
I use shredded paper from work then compost it.. The chickens love it and it is easy to clean up... Not to mention it is free...