Hi All,
So last night one of my hens was missing from the coop at bedtime- a first for us. We looked and looked and assumed she was the victim of either a hawk or the new plumber who was working at our house yesterday. I shed a few tears. Mid morning before work today I went out to toss a few handfuls of corn to the chickens because it is so cold & there she was. And then after work today, she was gone again. So after lots more searching, we have located her sitting on a nest under our deck next to the house in a well- hidden, well-protected area. However it is supposed to get down to the single digits over the next few nights, so I think I should bring her in. Several issues:
1. I have 3 silkies, 2 of which have been broody so far. 1 stayed in the coop the whole time on 4 eggs, 3 of which hatched successfully at which time we brought them all inside in a dog crate. 1 started sitting the week before Christmas & quit early last week. We tried to hatch the eggs, but it didn't work. We had moved her into our sunroom in the dog crate so she'd be warmer, but this segrated her from the flock. We don't know if this was the cause of her quitting or not. Finally, the point is that I don't know if this is the quitter or not. I don't know how many eggs she's on either.
2. If I move her inside with the eggs, will she quit because she can't get access to the flock?
3. If I don't move her, will she freeze to death on the nest?
4. SHould I try the coop? There's a heat lamp in there, which would keep her warm, but the light may be disruptive.
So last night one of my hens was missing from the coop at bedtime- a first for us. We looked and looked and assumed she was the victim of either a hawk or the new plumber who was working at our house yesterday. I shed a few tears. Mid morning before work today I went out to toss a few handfuls of corn to the chickens because it is so cold & there she was. And then after work today, she was gone again. So after lots more searching, we have located her sitting on a nest under our deck next to the house in a well- hidden, well-protected area. However it is supposed to get down to the single digits over the next few nights, so I think I should bring her in. Several issues:
1. I have 3 silkies, 2 of which have been broody so far. 1 stayed in the coop the whole time on 4 eggs, 3 of which hatched successfully at which time we brought them all inside in a dog crate. 1 started sitting the week before Christmas & quit early last week. We tried to hatch the eggs, but it didn't work. We had moved her into our sunroom in the dog crate so she'd be warmer, but this segrated her from the flock. We don't know if this was the cause of her quitting or not. Finally, the point is that I don't know if this is the quitter or not. I don't know how many eggs she's on either.
2. If I move her inside with the eggs, will she quit because she can't get access to the flock?
3. If I don't move her, will she freeze to death on the nest?
4. SHould I try the coop? There's a heat lamp in there, which would keep her warm, but the light may be disruptive.
