Mother Hen Attacking Chicks

It can happen, some chicks are a bit clingy and Mum will try and encourage them to stand on their own two feet.  I generally try and take Mum away from the chicks at around 8 weeks but they are in a pen where she can still see them and vice versa.  I have done it this week with Snowy and her 6 chicks.  It also helps the chicks to get used to humans as they are usually warned that you are a danger by Mum.  It also gives the broody time to recover and put some weight back on, especially if she is laying she will need to be on layers pellets.

If they are anything like my turkey poults were they will not want to let go of Mums (Dottys) apron strings.  I had to take Dotty away from them as they were getting so big they could have accidentally squashed her.