Christmas Hatch-Along
I took her inside the coop and locked her and the 2 chicks in a broody pen, then spent 30 minutes searching for the missing chick. No luck. I've got 3 thoughts on what may have happened -
Snake?I went out to the coop this evening to check on Elsa and the chicks. She was sitting out on the covered porch, just outside the coop. I could tell she was sitting to keep her chicks warm but I was surprised that she would bring them outside so soon. I picked her up and 2 chicks fell out. Ummmm.... She is supposed to have THREE chicks.
1. A rat or a mouse got the chick? Now, I've never SEEN a rat in the coop but I have seen mice. I would think that a mama hen would take on a rat or mouse to save her chick? To be fair, Elsa is a first time mum and very docile. She does growl at me when I muss with her and her babies but she has never tried to peck or bite me.
2. The baby fell through the fence around the covered porch and went under the porch. The coop is built on top of pallets so the covered porch is raised about 4 inches from the ground. It is wrapped with both 4x2 welded wire and chicken wire, but I've had small chicks squeeze through the chicken wire. A day old Silkie hatchling could probably have fit through if it was under duress. I did look for it as far as I could see but saw & heard nothing (no chirping).
3. One of the roosters or the game hen attacked and killed it. I didn't find any blood or a body so I'm hoping this isn't the case, but it is a possibility.
Want to know the part that makes me just sick? I put Elsa and the chicks in the broody pen this morning. She went nuts and was stomping all over the babies while pacing the cage so I let her out. If only I had just kept her in there, I'd probably still have all 3 babies. *sigh*
I have 2-3 more eggs that are close to hatching in the next day or two.
So sorry you lost your little one.I went out to the coop this evening to check on Elsa and the chicks. She was sitting out on the covered porch, just outside the coop. I could tell she was sitting to keep her chicks warm but I was surprised that she would bring them outside so soon. I picked her up and 2 chicks fell out. Ummmm.... She is supposed to have THREE chicks.
1. A rat or a mouse got the chick? Now, I've never SEEN a rat in the coop but I have seen mice. I would think that a mama hen would take on a rat or mouse to save her chick? To be fair, Elsa is a first time mum and very docile. She does growl at me when I muss with her and her babies but she has never tried to peck or bite me.
2. The baby fell through the fence around the covered porch and went under the porch. The coop is built on top of pallets so the covered porch is raised about 4 inches from the ground. It is wrapped with both 4x2 welded wire and chicken wire, but I've had small chicks squeeze through the chicken wire. A day old Silkie hatchling could probably have fit through if it was under duress. I did look for it as far as I could see but saw & heard nothing (no chirping).
3. One of the roosters or the game hen attacked and killed it. I didn't find any blood or a body so I'm hoping this isn't the case, but it is a possibility.
Want to know the part that makes me just sick? I put Elsa and the chicks in the broody pen this morning. She went nuts and was stomping all over the babies while pacing the cage so I let her out. If only I had just kept her in there, I'd probably still have all 3 babies. *sigh*
I have 2-3 more eggs that are close to hatching in the next day or two.
Oh so sad to loose oneI went out to the coop this evening to check on Elsa and the chicks. She was sitting out on the covered porch, just outside the coop. I could tell she was sitting to keep her chicks warm but I was surprised that she would bring them outside so soon. I picked her up and 2 chicks fell out. Ummmm.... She is supposed to have THREE chicks.
1. A rat or a mouse got the chick? Now, I've never SEEN a rat in the coop but I have seen mice. I would think that a mama hen would take on a rat or mouse to save her chick? To be fair, Elsa is a first time mum and very docile. She does growl at me when I muss with her and her babies but she has never tried to peck or bite me.
2. The baby fell through the fence around the covered porch and went under the porch. The coop is built on top of pallets so the covered porch is raised about 4 inches from the ground. It is wrapped with both 4x2 welded wire and chicken wire, but I've had small chicks squeeze through the chicken wire. A day old Silkie hatchling could probably have fit through if it was under duress. I did look for it as far as I could see but saw & heard nothing (no chirping).
3. One of the roosters or the game hen attacked and killed it. I didn't find any blood or a body so I'm hoping this isn't the case, but it is a possibility.
Want to know the part that makes me just sick? I put Elsa and the chicks in the broody pen this morning. She went nuts and was stomping all over the babies while pacing the cage so I let her out. If only I had just kept her in there, I'd probably still have all 3 babies. *sigh*
I have 2-3 more eggs that are close to hatching in the next day or two.
Oh so sad to loose one
Elsa doesn't sound like great mum unfortunately. The chicks are only young so I wouldn't expect them to be out foraging till at least 10 days old.. mine usually take their babies out from 2 weeks old but not far to start with.
If rat or mouse at night time mother hen wouldn't be able to see so wouldn't do anything, during the day yes hen should attack anything to protect her chicks.
