[Tattyanne456]

How long should I keep mum and 3 babies in a run together? The chicks are about 3 weeks now, would it be safe to separate mum and put her back with the rest of the girls? She is still very guarding of them though, I feel she wants to get out and show them how to scratch about in the grass but I'm worried that A: I'll never get them back in, or B: that they'll come to harm if I'm distracted .

[animartco]

How long should I keep mum and 3 babies in a run together? The chicks are about 3 weeks now, would it be safe to separate mum and put her back with the rest of the girls? She is still very guarding of them though, I feel she wants to get out and show them how to scratch about in the grass but I'm worried that A: I'll never get them back in, or B: that they'll come to harm if I'm distracted .

The rule of thumb is let the mother train the babies to perch. Once they are roosting beside her and not on the ground or under her wing it is safe to seperate them, although you should never put youngsters on their own with strange adults. Three weeks is definitely too young. They will still be needing their mother's heat as well as her protection.

[joyfull]

she will let you know when she has had enough of them, most of the time it is around the 6-8 weeks age but some of mine have kept their young with them for 10 weeks.