[darcyhen]

Hi,
My araucana's red head is because the mother is attacking it.
The chicks are 5/6 weeks old and in the last week i have noticed that she is not defending them as before against the other chickens.
Today I saw her have a go at all the chicks but she singled out this araucana (male) for particularly nasty pecking.
Should I be concerned and if so, what can i do to stop this? She was/is top hen amongst my three.
Thanks
Michelle

[SMD66]

I wouls seperate the chicks from the mum if at all feasible, we had quail that did this and they didn't stop. 

[poppies]

Hi remove the chicks asap she could/will kill it, sometimes they seem to get fed up with their chicks after a while, with mine it  is usually about 5/6 weeks

[darcyhen]

thanks she's def not being motherly anymore. They spend a lot of time on thir own now but still want their mummy! Have made a seperate area but catching themto put them in is another matter!!!
How long will the need to be seperate... in other words when can they stand up to mummy?
michelle

[SMD66]

when they no longer pester mum and can stand up for themselves I suppose

[Foxy]

At that stage I pop mum back in her original run, but tend to put the youngsters together in a separate run till a bit older, large fowl I intergrate at around 13 weeks if there is enough of them, small bantams a bit later again.

[joyfull]

sorry not had this problem with my first lot, second lot are now 5 weeks so will have to see what happens with these.