Unexpected Hen Mom

[SRBoe]

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If I bought this, we'd have to raise it, because we've already had ants in the nesting box thing I made. How do the hens get in if we put it a few inches off the ground? And would this be big enough for 3 hens?

Raise it up and build a small ramp similar to the ones inside the coop. If you use diatomaceous earth underneath and some inside the coop which will kill the ants and other insects. Chickens need to give themselves dust baths to stay free of mites and other nasty parasites.

 

[Debbie292d]

Not that it matters, but any idea what kind she is?

I'm not great with breeds other than silkies, but the farm across the road has Brahmas, and she looks kind of like hers. Hers are quite large.

 

[Bsmac]

I'm not great with breeds other than silkies, but the farm across the road has Brahmas, and she looks kind of like hers. Hers are quite large.

She did look like a light Brahma!

 

[Tookie]

Welcome! Good luck!

 

[AdoptedHenMom]

Well..... I'm sad to report, too little, too late. I don't know for sure yet, but "Chickie Baby" didn't come for dinner yesterday afternoon and when I went searching, I found a bunch of feathers. No carcass and no big feathers so I'm holding out hope it was stress molting and she's hiding somewhere... Now I have a lovely chicken coop, corn scratch, worms and no chicken... I am very sad. She did just fine for 4 or 5 weeks. Maybe I should have left well enough alone...

 

[Debbie292d]

Well..... I'm sad to report, too little, too late. I don't know for sure yet, but "Chickie Baby" didn't come for dinner yesterday afternoon and when I went searching, I found a bunch of feathers. No carcass and no big feathers so I'm holding out hope it was stress molting and she's hiding somewhere... Now I have a lovely chicken coop, corn scratch, worms and no chicken... I am very sad. She did just fine for 4 or 5 weeks. Maybe I should have left well enough alone...

No, you are fine. You did nothing wrong as you were in fact, looking to save her from predators.

Maybe you're right and she's fine, but if you never see her again, she at least knew you to be safe versus where she came from.

If she never shows back up, you could make a brooder in that new coop of yours and get yourself a few chicks to grow up in it. Get some chick starter or all-flock for them though. No scratch for chicks until they are at least a month old, and then be sure to get them some grit. You deserve to have some chickens!