2 weeks missing hen, found her in shed with eggs

17 years ago

About four weeks ago two of my hens went missing. On Mother's day we found one in the shed, between an old motorcycle and an even older lawn mower. She was sitting on eggs, but without a rooster, she'd be sitting on them until?? So, a friend brought over some fertile eggs and we did a sneaky switch. By the way, the other missing girl has shown up just once. We supect she's off somewhere sitting on eggs (that will never hatch) as well. Our back yard is huge and there's also a big field and lots of trees behind our house. Many places to hide for sure.

This Sunday will be 21 days for the eggs. The shed is very hot...100 - 105 during the day this past week. I will try to keep a close eye on the eggs and I'd like to move the whole family into the henhouse but I don't know if this is a good idea. First of all, this is a hen who was resuced, and the minute she arrived she flew up into a tree and only came down to eat. She's not crazy about people. She never warmed up to my other hens. So, I wonder what might happen when I put her and her babies into the henhouse with the others. The door to the henhouse is open all day. Then come and go as they please. At night some of the girls fly up into the tree and some sleep inside. (I know I'd get an "F" in Farm Wife Class.)

So, any ideas on how to keep the chicks safe? Should I lock Mom and babies up alone for a few days and leave the others out? That seems kind of mean, I know. But I am worried about their safety. Thanks!

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Comments (10)

shellybabe
17 years ago
We always locked them in together for the simple fact of protecting the babies from the other hens and to make sure the mom was going to take care of them, we have had a few that sat on the eggs and hatched them out, but then when they hatched, she didn't know what to do with the babies.
Besides that, babies are so easy for a cat, coon etc to snatch without a problem, and if the mom roosts in a tree, the babies are fair game for a predator.
robin_maine
17 years ago
I wouldn't put her in the hen house while the chicks are small. The other hens will kill them. I like to keep my hens safe the same way Shelly does.
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velvet_sparrow
17 years ago
I agree with robin & shelley...plus, baby chicks are so innocent, they run right up to things to check them out and have no idea anything wants them for dinner. Even though mama likes to roost in trees, she will not do so and leave her babies. As they get older and grow up, she will return to her tree roosting--and teach her kids to do the same, so watch out!

It's not mean to safely house them, it's smart. If you don't, something WILL get them, and you'll be kicking yourself. Good for you for wanting to protect them. :)

Velvet ~:>
lunchwithdeb
Original Author
17 years ago
What I meant about being mean was the fact that I'm kicking every one else out of the hen house.

The eggs have started to crack this afternoon. Weird, but today is the 23rd day so they're two days late.

I'm so excited to have new babies! Every kid in the neighborhood is anxious too!
shellybabe
17 years ago
do you have some sort of a small house, like a dog house or something? perhaps a large cage? just something to keep them all in together and keep mom from roosting in a tree (just in case)? and to keep predators from getting in, you don't have to kick the other chickens out of the hen house if you can find something to keep the mom and babies in, We had a "brooding house" a little house up off the ground with a cage type door, to keep the hen and chicks in for about 2-3 weeks.
Hope they all hatched out ok Monday was my son's birthday too
lunchwithdeb
Original Author
17 years ago
Six hatched, but how strange is this...36 hours apart. The last one is just hatching now. I thought they all hatched within a day of each other?

All is well and I'm trying to figure out a way to sequester the little family within the hen house so the others can still perch up top.
shellybabe
17 years ago
congratulations on the baby chicks, not too strange one is late, we always had one that was teh late hatcher,
lunchwithdeb
Original Author
17 years ago
Shellybabe, the last (6th) chick hatched with a funny crook in it's neck. It's not eating much and seems sick. It's under a heat lamp in my bathroom with water and room to run around. I'm thinking it's going to either die peacefully or be a runt that I keep as my favorite pet. Poor little thing. There is no way to give it to mommy hen and the others.

My hen is a great mother. And she knows how to count. When she was distracted I scooped up one baby and a few moments later she started counting, noticed one was missing and went nuts until I put the little one back down. I find that freaking amazing.

Meanwhile, they are putting up with a zillion teenaged boys on a skate ramp only feet away from the henhouse. Hopefully chickens don't need peace and quiet.
shellybabe
17 years ago
If they can put up with my two nephews riding wagons down the side of the hill next to the coupe, and my two kids, they can put up with anything.
can the little guy eat alright? Never heard of a chick like that before, hope he makes it alright.
and yes the mommies can count, especially if one is missing, not so much as if there is one more,
lunchwithdeb
Original Author
17 years ago
The funny neck chick is still alive. I'm wondering if I should give it to Mommy Hen? It's eating, peeping, etc. Will a "weaker" chick be pecked to death by the other chicks or is that just with wolves? (Not trying to be funny.)

2 weeks missing hen, found her in shed with eggs

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2 weeks missing hen, found her in shed with eggs

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