Unexpectedly fostering a brooder hen and her chicks

[CluckerFamily]

Welcome to BYC!!

 

[chrissynemetz]

Welcome to BYC! Good luck with your surprise chicks!

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi Becki and welcome to BYC. Here are some helpful links:

• Great go-to resource - Articles
• Space requirements
• “How to...” guides
• Find other BYC members nearby using the links in my signature, below (turn your phone to landscape to see them).

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. Enjoy your surprise chicks

 

[Sammi_0411]

Welcome to BYC how lovely you are just need to get some chick crumb mum and babies can eat it and maybe give mom some oystershell to boost calcium levels. Is there any way of shutting barn my only concern would be predators you doing great
Sam xx

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[EmmaRainboe]

Welcome to BYC! So glad you decided to join us!

 

[Bsimula23]

Okay it's been almost a week now and I'm realizing that her nightly shelter is not the problem, it's the daytime predators...particular chicken hawks. She lost one of her flock so far. Her and the flock stay close to the barn during the day and I have some cover for her and her chicks but I want to do something more to help protect them. My house is on a 1/4 acre and is right in the middle of the lot. In the back corner of the lot I have the barn, a shed, and the back corner of the house, that's where they primarily hang out, she has not left my yard. I have a tree also next to the house. What can I put up to keep the hawks away? I've read that owl decoys are helpful as well as some shiny long twirling things or flashy reflective tape. Anyone have any luck with any of the above mentioned? I bought a waterer for them and I throw out feed for them twice a day. There is also a rooster and a yearling hen that help protect momma hen and her babies. Momma hen is quite the protector as well! She has become a little more at ease with me this past week. Her and her flock have really grown on me

 

[janiedoe]

I honestly don't believe anything deters a hawk except for a covered pen. They are not afraid of reflectors or fake owls. I think voices help a lot so I sometimes leave a radio on when mine are in the yard.

 

[FuzzyCritters]

Okay it's been almost a week now and I'm realizing that her nightly shelter is not the problem, it's the daytime predators...particular chicken hawks. She lost one of her flock so far. Her and the flock stay close to the barn during the day and I have some cover for her and her chicks but I want to do something more to help protect them. My house is on a 1/4 acre and is right in the middle of the lot. In the back corner of the lot I have the barn, a shed, and the back corner of the house, that's where they primarily hang out, she has not left my yard. I have a tree also next to the house. What can I put up to keep the hawks away? I've read that owl decoys are helpful as well as some shiny long twirling things or flashy reflective tape. Anyone have any luck with any of the above mentioned? I bought a waterer for them and I throw out feed for them twice a day. There is also a rooster and a yearling hen that help protect momma hen and her babies. Momma hen is quite the protector as well! She has become a little more at ease with me this past week. Her and her flock have really grown on me

You might want to start a thread about keeping hawks away in the "Predators and Pests" section. Hopefully some more people can help you there!