Hi All,
I am not much of a posting person, but I need input. I've put the important details to save answering because I don't always have wi-fi.
We discovered where a hen had been hiding away tonight. She had been setting, we suspected and searched to lock her & eggs in a broody pen, but couldn't find her. Sadly, the eggs near hatch are now gone, terrible and sickening. She is shaken up and has been well inspected and besides missing feathers, is physically fine.
Complictions: I have been careful about seeking purebred heritage breeds, I can't receive chicks in the mail, and also Can't have any more roosters! But she is going to be clucking her little heart out. I don't even know where I would get newly hatched sex linked babies. If there was a 24 hour store selling heritage sex linked chicks I'd be there right now!
Any suggestions on where to find brand new female chicks in Skagit or Whatcom county, WA would be appreciated. I would only want a small amount. I believe she would accept chicks. She is a bantam and they try to steal each others chicks at times.
Because of the trauma, I don't know if she would accept eggs. And shipped eggs are not a guaranteed hatch. However, she is in the dark now and can stay there for a while, she gorged on feed and drink when we offered it to her after the attack. We have a extra large dog crate we could keep dark and just put a little light in for her to eat and drink at certain times. The spot she chose was very dark, and she was definitely not out daily.
I would be willing to do a trade or buy. I have Icelandics.
Please let me know if anyone has ideas, or a lead. Maybe she just gets over it? Seems hard.
I apologize that I will not be able to check responses immediately, I will need a bit of sleep first. I also do not always have internet access available.
Apologies for the extra long early morning post. Thank you everyone in advance for your thoughts.
. . . and btw, the possom is no longer a threat.
I am not much of a posting person, but I need input. I've put the important details to save answering because I don't always have wi-fi.
We discovered where a hen had been hiding away tonight. She had been setting, we suspected and searched to lock her & eggs in a broody pen, but couldn't find her. Sadly, the eggs near hatch are now gone, terrible and sickening. She is shaken up and has been well inspected and besides missing feathers, is physically fine.
Complictions: I have been careful about seeking purebred heritage breeds, I can't receive chicks in the mail, and also Can't have any more roosters! But she is going to be clucking her little heart out. I don't even know where I would get newly hatched sex linked babies. If there was a 24 hour store selling heritage sex linked chicks I'd be there right now!
Any suggestions on where to find brand new female chicks in Skagit or Whatcom county, WA would be appreciated. I would only want a small amount. I believe she would accept chicks. She is a bantam and they try to steal each others chicks at times.
Because of the trauma, I don't know if she would accept eggs. And shipped eggs are not a guaranteed hatch. However, she is in the dark now and can stay there for a while, she gorged on feed and drink when we offered it to her after the attack. We have a extra large dog crate we could keep dark and just put a little light in for her to eat and drink at certain times. The spot she chose was very dark, and she was definitely not out daily.
I would be willing to do a trade or buy. I have Icelandics.
Please let me know if anyone has ideas, or a lead. Maybe she just gets over it? Seems hard.
I apologize that I will not be able to check responses immediately, I will need a bit of sleep first. I also do not always have internet access available.
Apologies for the extra long early morning post. Thank you everyone in advance for your thoughts.
. . . and btw, the possom is no longer a threat.
Sorry for the loss of this clutch of eggs. You don't mention how long she was setting. Brooding can be debilitating so rather than trying to get her to accept more eggs, I would simply her to 'break' her broodiness. By the time you can get more chicks she will most likely have reached a point where she will not accept them.
