3week old chick -mommy wants to leave

[usaf1997]

I have a hen and her baby chick inside the house - huge problem happened, long story, would rather not get into it. My question is: my hen doesn’t want to be inside anymore. She is exhibiting behavior that tells me that she no longer wants to take care of her baby chick. Pip ( the baby chick ) is exactly 3 weeks old today. I am thinking of putting Polly ( the mama hen) back with her flock. Any opinions on this would be helpful.also, is it ok that Pip will be alone??? Thats what is concerning me if I put Polly outside, then Pip will be literally alone in the Pen.i cannot put pip outside with the flock bcz it causes my Wyandottes to go broody and I want to avoid this as much as possible. I cannot afford or have the space for more birds

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

I have a hen and her baby chick inside the house - huge problem happened, long story, would rather not get into it. My question is: my hen doesn’t want to be inside anymore. She is exhibiting behavior that tells me that she no longer wants to take care of her baby chick. Pip ( the baby chick ) is exactly 3 weeks old today. I am thinking of putting Polly ( the mama hen) back with her flock. Any opinions on this would be helpful.also, is it ok that Pip will be alone??? Thats what is concerning me if I put Polly outside, then Pip will be literally alone in the Pen.i cannot put pip outside with the flock bcz it causes my Wyandottes to go broody and I want to avoid this as much as possible. I cannot afford or have the space for more birds

You should have left them both outside because momma would have introduced Pip to the rest and Pip would be a flock member. Hens usually want to take their chicks out foraging with them and will carry them to the roost so at three weeks she loses interest in sitting on her baby

 

[RiDaGeckoGuy]

If you don’t feel safe leaving pip alone than you would have to get more chicks because a chick raised by a human will be bullied once they go outside because they are used to people

 

[HollowOfWisps]

How is the hen acting that makes you think she is now rejecting the chick? Is she pecking at it? Not sitting with it as much? Completely avoiding it? How big is the area inside that they are being kept in?

 

[usaf1997]

You should have left them both outside because momma would have introduced Pip to the rest and Pip would be a flock member. Hens usually want to take their chicks out foraging with them and will carry them to the roost so at three weeks she loses interest in sitting on her baby

Unfortunately in this case it was not an option. Bcz of space I could not risk more hens going broody. Bcz that was already becoming a problem and with this particular hen(Polly) she was at risk for other flock issues as well.i do appreciate your insight though. I appreciate learning from others

 

[usaf1997]

If you don’t feel safe leaving pip alone than you would have to get more chicks because a chick raised by a human will be bullied once they go outside because they are used to people

Yeah for sure bcz of space I cannot do that but yes that has cross my mind as well.

 

[nuthatched]

She's weaned the chick, she's done. But now you have the problem of reintroducing the hen and chick.

 

[usaf1997]

How is the hen acting that makes you think she is now rejecting the chick? Is she pecking at it? Not sitting with it as much? Completely avoiding it? How big is the area inside that they are being kept in?

Completely avoiding her. The area is pretty big. It’s about 12x12 space. And no pecking. I took Polly outside and she is loving life now.

 

[usaf1997]

She's weaned the chick, she's done. But now you have the problem of reintroducing the hen and chick.

Polly is already fine. Took the hens 5 seconds to accept Polly back- I was actually pretty shocked bcz they know Polly had always been sick and the weak one out of the flock . When pip is older I am going to introduce her to her flock.