My 10 year old IB peahen was massacred by my neighbors dogs today. She recently had hatched two peachicks, I sold one at four weeks to a friend, and was gonna let my hen keep her other baby for a while, til they became less bonded. However, at 6 weeks, the baby and momma were still very bonded, and he needed her. He is so lonely and i am so sad for him. He called for her all day and finally did observe her dead body. Tonight he is roosting with our Charcoal peahen Pearl, and begging to get under her wing. Pearl and Snap, the peahen that was killed, were very good friends. But Pearl is a Charcoal and therefore I would assume not carrying a lot of motherly tendencies, since she is, or is supposed to be, sterile. Is there any chance she might adopt this baby and help him along the rest of the way to adulthood? She is allowing the chick to sit with her on the roost, but of course isn't inclined to let him get under her wing.
I should add that when I sold the other chick, we placed her with a broody hen who adopted her immediately, and the owner was pretty sure that would happen. We made sure that baby would have either a surrogate mom or some chicks her own size to mingle with. But this chick has no surrogate mom, that's why I'm hoping Pearl might come through for us. He does have three chicken chicks that are about his size, that he sometimes hangs out with a little.
I should add that when I sold the other chick, we placed her with a broody hen who adopted her immediately, and the owner was pretty sure that would happen. We made sure that baby would have either a surrogate mom or some chicks her own size to mingle with. But this chick has no surrogate mom, that's why I'm hoping Pearl might come through for us. He does have three chicken chicks that are about his size, that he sometimes hangs out with a little.
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