Should I take baby away from it's Mama?

[charmed one]

I have a peahen sitting on an egg. I know where the nest is but have not bothered it. Last year she hatched a peachick. On day 3 of the little guy's life, it jumped up on the water tank for the cows and fell in and drowned. I swore I wasn't going to let that happen again. The thing is..should I pen up both mom and chick til he grows up alittle or take it away from mom as soon as it's hatched? Granted, all I have is a hen sitting on a nest. But I want to be ready with a plan when and if it hatches. I don't want to lose another one. Any advise?

 

[babymakes6]

Can't answer, but your avatar always makes me laugh!

 

[Kev]

You can pen them up until the chick is old/big enough to be safe from most predators or incidents like that. But, you do need to proof the pen from bottom to top, both from predators and also to prevent the chick from flying thru the wire and being unable to get back in. For example if the pen is made of chain link or livestock panels, very good idea to put half inch chicken wire all up the side. Trust me.. peachicks are already very good flyers at just one or two weeks of age- flying 5-6 feet at that age with no problem.

 

[charmed one]

Quote:
I know what you mean..The little one we lost was less than a week old and flew at least 3-4 feet to get into the tank. Thanks for the advise. Today hasn't been my best day...

 

[Kev]

I learned that lesson the hard way too.. silly me put 3 foot of chicken wire around the pens.. hey, that worked for the chickens... until one morning I found two cold and dead peachicks outside the pen- they were mashed up against the wire trying to get back in.. one was very cold but eventually recovered after warming up. I felt so stupid and horrible at this.

 

[charmed one]

Kev, I love your avatar. I was telling my DH how beautiful the white Peafowl were. (Ours are India blue) Are they as shimmery as they seem?(I say shimmery for lack of a better word.) I think we've decided to pen them up for awhile when and if the egg(s) hatch. She has the nest next to the fence line at the edge of the yard. She will not let us get close even when she comes in for food. I just had my little dog run over yesterday and I told my DH I couldn't handle another death any time soon. That may sound selfish penning them up(they free range on the farm and usually roost up in a tree at night) but they are well taken care of and maybe we'll save a life in the end.

 

[MissPrissy]

It is my understanding that peachicks are less likely to survive without their mother. This is why I hesitate to try hatching. I would pen them up in a safe place and let her brood them.

 

[charmed one]

I agree Miss Prissy. When I said "pen them up" I meant mama and baby. I really don't want to split them up. Everyone needs a mama!