Mother Hen

Tattyanne456 · « **on:** September 06, 2010, 14:53 »

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 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2010, 16:13 »

Quote from: Tattyanne456 on September 06, 2010, 14:53

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 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2010, 16:15 »

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.

New Hen Mother - advice, please! Started by AmandaH on The Hen House	23 Replies 5030 Views	August 05, 2009, 19:09 by bexy
Unfit mother!!!!!! Started by spaulaj on The Hen House	12 Replies 3501 Views	January 25, 2008, 21:15 by Aunt Sally
Mother hen starting to lay Started by bantam novice on The Hen House	3 Replies 1215 Views	July 30, 2013, 13:36 by ANHBUC
mother hen is itchy! Started by Ched on The Hen House	1 Replies 1355 Views	July 04, 2008, 14:28 by Foxy

Mother Hen

Tattyanne456

Mother Hen

animartco

Re: Mother Hen

joyfull

Re: Mother Hen

Similar Topics

New Hen Mother - advice, please!

Unfit mother!!!!!!

Mother hen starting to lay

mother hen is itchy!