Isabel Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I'm absolutely gutted. Just went out to check Nigella and her three chicks ... and there are only two chicks. Our little Gold Laced Wyandotte has gone. I'm suspecting a magpie. The chicks have half the length of a 9' run which is attached to our henhouse. Mum and her chicks live in a dog kennel at the opposite end of the run to the coop and I have a piece of wire dividing it but the wire is only 2 feet high. Yesterday I closed the back door to the run/coop but today one of the other girls was laying this pm when I let the chicks and Mum out, so I left the door open. So a magpie either came in there or the chick squeezed out of a small gap between run and kennel and was tKen from the lawn. Either way, I feel really guilty. Mum and the other two chicks are great. They're so lively. Five eggs didn't hatch in the end - I looked in all and none had chicks in them. Such a disappointing hatch rate. In the morning, I'm going to move the run right away from the coop and seal the open end with chicken wire and block any gaps between kennel and run. Bit late for the Wyandotte but hopefully not too late for the others. Isabel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirstie Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Oh Isabel I'm so sorry you are not having much luck with your first chicks x magpies do like to eat babies but Im surprised the chick wandered off from mum so soon from hatching (I could be wrong though -they can be quite adventurous) hope you manage to make the run safe and your two extra precious chicks keep growing xx good luck x oh and don't feel guilty you didn't know this was going to happen x sadly these things do happen and you have had a really bad run of luck - next time it will seem easy (ok if you go by how stressed I've been this time that doesn't show how easy it's been ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted May 16, 2012 Author Share Posted May 16, 2012 Thanks Kirstie. Thought it would be less stressful once they were out and about. The more I think about it, I think a magpie came in and took it. We had awful trouble last year with magpies accessing the nesting boxes via the run and taking eggs. Also, my son called me this pm as there were one or two magpies loitering outside the run - wish I had gone out but was supervising homeowrks and then got caught up with dinner etc. Yours still doing well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirstie Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Hmmm I know that feeling, homework, dinner, bedtime routine - the thought of a large glass of wine once all the children are in bed Mine are good - although I'm def a glass half empty person as I'm constantly worrying something will go wrong - last year it was all going well until about 6 weeks when one of my boy chicks (I had two) got what looked like Mareks disease - where? What? Why? But we had to deal with him - and he was my lovely boy (hence why we have evil pen (childrens name for the other boy) who will be dinner very soon) but it's made me realise we don't have that much power over what happens - so it would be lovely for them all to grow to be lovely GIRLS without any issues along the way but this is animals and they have different plans - they've not read the books! you need to get a magpie trap (or befriend someone who can do that for you!) - nasty birds! Good luck xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted May 17, 2012 Author Share Posted May 17, 2012 Mama Hen seems scared to take her remaining chicks out today. She popped out for about 30 seconds, relieved herself and chivied them back inside. Not just inside but under her. I have the door closed on them for now. Hubby is going to put wire up before lunch to ensure all gaps are well and truly sealed. I'll open her door again then and hopefully she will get her confidence back. Is there anything else I can or should do? Thanks Isabel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
