Chicks hiding

fmorlando1

In the Brooder
Jun 29, 2021
15
25
49
It looks like I may have lost my very first chick to a predator today, most likely a hawk although I didn’t see it. I have 10 and eight week old chicks free ranging in my yard directly adjacent to where the adult hens free range. The chicks have their own coop and predator proof run that they go into at night. Late this morning I noticed one of the chicks was missing, I have searched everywhere and from my past experience know that even when one has escaped or found a small hole in the fence they typically stay very close and just try to get back in. i’ve resigned myself that she is gone. Now however all of the other chicks are hiding under the deck and will only come out if I entice them with some scratch, and then immediately head back under the deck. Is this normal behavior?
 

sourland

Broody Magician
Premium Feather Member
13 Years
May 3, 2009
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It's actually a good behavior indicating that they know that a predator is in the area. If the missing chick is still alive she will likely return tonight. I would not free range them tomorrow.
 

fmorlando1

In the Brooder
Jun 29, 2021
15
25
49
Thank you that sounds like a good idea, and I’ll keep my eye out for the missing one tonight.
 

fmorlando1

In the Brooder
Jun 29, 2021
15
25
49
It's actually a good behavior indicating that they know that a predator is in the area. If the missing chick is still alive she will likely return tonight. I would not free range them tomorrow.
Wow I feel horrible, I was wrong about everything. I assumed it was a hawk during the day because the coop and run looked totally undisturbed. I also was wrong about the coop being predator proof. I lost two more last night and found the remains of one of them along the perimeter of my property. The run I have been using for them is a chicken tractor style made completely out of hardwire cloth and fit snugly to the ground, but didn’t have hard wire cloth buried. Even today it looked totally undisturbed, somehow the predator got under without digging and got the chicks out without a flurry of feathers scattered all around. I should’ve known something was up when the 10 week old chicks wouldn’t even go in last night so I took my chances and moved them into the main coop/run under cover of darkness. But I left the eight week old where they had been. I could put bricks all around the base of the of the tractor style chick run or do you think I’m safer putting them in with the adults? From what I’ve read eight weeks is the minimum for integration. The 10 week olds and adult hens are getting along fine today. Or I could put them in a cramped quarters in a dog crate in the garage.
 

fmorlando1

In the Brooder
Jun 29, 2021
15
25
49
If your flock is accepting the 10 week olds, I would try integrating the younger birds.
Yes they seem to be and I’m watching them pretty close. I haven’t seen any bullying but the 10 week old seem to stay pretty close together which is probably natural. They are all also the same breed buff Orpington‘s. The eight week old are a mix of breeds with some significantly smaller.
 

Folly's place

Enabler
10 Years
Sep 13, 2011
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southern Michigan
Mine are integrating as soon as they don't need a heat source, so at five or six weeks of age. They have hiding places, multiple feeders and waterers, and separate coop sections to avoid anyone that's a problem.
So sorry for your losses, time to enhance security everywhere.
Mary
 

fmorlando1

In the Brooder
Jun 29, 2021
15
25
49
Thank you for the advice! I put the eight weeks old in the main coop last night at bedtime, and made sure they had places to hide an extra food and water. Got up early to watch how they all interacted. The eight weeks seem shy but they weren’t hiding all the time. Now, a few hours later they are out and about, mostly staying together but With the other chickens. Actually the adult hens seem to leave them alone completely, it’s the 10 week olds that will occasionally give them a little chase but I haven’t seen any pecking. It’s really gratifying for me to see everybody together, and will be less work!
 

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