tragic accident and question re small chicks...

[monita]

I would try to slip more chicks in with her at night. I don't see why she wouldn't take to them. Anyway.... I am sorry for your loss and please let us all know how everything works out.

 

[IggiMom]

The one chick left did die, but the hen just sat there on her nest making that clucking noise that hens make when they have chicks.

So I put three little RIR chicks under her last night. The RIR chicks were 3 days old.

She seemed to accept them. In fact, when one started to come out, she carefully tucked it back underneath. She hasn't gotten off the nest yet with her new babies, but she is alive, and still making little clucking noises.

I'll check her in a little while.

Catherine

 

[Intheswamp]

I'm glad that Fluffy is beginning to take the RIRs into her family. With her scooting the chick back under her I think it's a "done deal".

They will do her a lot of good. She might enjoy some scrambled eggs this morning...might make her perk up a bit.

Did you determine what got into your hutch and how? Finding a food source will only encourage the predator to revisit the area.

Very best wishes to you and your chickens (Fluffy especially right now),
Ed

 

[ra]

Sorry Fluffy lost some babies! It is so sad! I pray she will get strong soon and care for her new family!
Have a blessed day!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I know just how heartbreaking it is to have a momma and her chicks attacked

I feel so badly for the little ones but so very glad that your Fluffy is doing ok.


Silkies are amazing - their ability to love - what wonderful birds.

 

[IggiMom]

Update! Things are getting happier for Fluffy!

The three little RIR chicks are doing fine with her and she likes them. I cannot help feeling that she is thinking, "My new babies are just a little slow. I'll have to be patient with them."

This is because, since they were just under a light since they hatched, they are not good at following. And, when she tosses food into the air the way Mama hens do, to show them where the food is, they just watch. I feel sure they will catch on soon, though.

So tonight she has another foster, since she did so well with the RIR's.

I had a truly stupid mother turkey walk out into the pouring rain with four babies today. Right off the bat, one was killed by one of my roosters.

Then Mama turkey wandered around in the rain. The babies didn't know how to follow and she kept losing them. Finally she managed to get two under her, and the third was just wandering about in the rain, waiting to be killed by the rooster. So I picked it up, put it under a light, and, now that it is dark, put it under Fluffy, along with the RIR's. So far as I could tell, she seemed quite pleased.

I'll see how things seem tomorrow.

But another strange thing--she had a leftover egg from when her own chicks hatched out some time ago, and she was setting away on it, too. I didn't even know it was there. I just happened to feel it under her tonight.

Fluffy likes being a mother, and I think that I could put eggs under her with all those chicks, and she would set them, and take care of them when they hatched. I think she has decided to be broody the rest of her life, basically.

When she stands up you can see that the feathers are all yanked off her backside, but otherwise I believe she is going to be fine.

Someone asked what the preditor was. I am not sure, but I think a neighbor's dog.

Anyway, Fluffy's life is pretty full right now.

I gave her some warm rice with buttermilk, which she really liked, and I'll make her some scrambled eggs tomorrow.

I'll see if I can get some pics tomorrow with her latest baby, but it may be hard because she is in a hutch with hardware cloth.

Catherine

 

[GermanChick]

I was just reading your story and I am so happy to hear that Fluffy is doing good and enjoying her adopted babies. I am so sorry for the other babies that didn't make it but it seems like there is a happy ending ....
Would love to see some pictures

 

[dieselgrl48]

So sorry about your chick's.My first Silkie I ever hatched was actualy named Ms.Fluff Dec 04.She was an awesome mom and hatched 12 babies in Nov 05 in the cold here and 11 survived.Silkie's are awesome bird's.Maybe she will adapt the newbie's in well and care for them as her own.I had a cochin hatch a turkey egg and he just went right along with the crew.Update us on her.

 

[IggiMom]

Quote:
Oh--that is funny--Fluffy is the first Silkie I ever hatched, too.

I don't name all my chickens, because, for one thing, I can't tell them all apart. But my last year's hatch of Silkies was a bad hatch--only one made it, and that was Fluffy, and of course the name was just sort of obvious, I guess.

I'm really anxious to see how she looks with her new turkey baby tomorrow.

I still can't BELIEVE how clueless turkey Mum was. I had heard that turkeys weren't too bright, but if you could have seen this one wandering about in the rain with her new babies running all over.

I have another turkey mum in a shed who did not come out. Perhaps she will do a little better.

Catherine

 

[chickenjones]

Love your story! so glad its working out! You are a good mama too!