8 week old Barred Rock mothering 2 week old?

[mboreham1]

I certainly do not have a problem but has anyone seen an 8 week old Barred Rock mother a baby chick? She is displaying all the behaviors of a mother, letting the chick roost under her legs at night, going and finding food and treats and dragging the chick along with, protecting the chick from the fully grown RIR's? It most wonderful to see, i have just never seen this before.

I was worried about introducing the chick to the hens but once this one took it under her wing it has been fine!

 

[blefky]

Never seen it, but I love it!

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Awww...... You wouldn't think she had the necessary hormones to feel motherly. But aren't you glad she does?

 

[Terpsichore94]

That is so sweet!

My hubby came home with a 3 new little babies and a couple of our 6 week olds did a little mothering too... snuggling and hovering over them at night when the others would ignore them or run over them. So cute to watch the younglings try to puff up and be protective.

 

[sheena6292]

I posted last week about my rir Rosie doing the same thing.

but she does it to about 3 of them. Its so cute. I love watching her.

 

[sheena6292]

Double posted sorry

 

[mboreham1]

i have heard barred rocks are not that motherly, do you think it is a good sign of things to come? Meaning, my RIR's dont have a motherly feather on their body, food, sunbathing, dust bathing and laying eggs are what they live for, i thought BR were similar.

It is seriously cute to try and find the chick look everywhere and find her snuggled between two Barred Rocks. They are all outside, i haven't even use a heat lamp once, it has hardly eaten any of the food too because the chicks are so good at finding worms, snails, grit and other delightful treats in my yard. I truly hope these girls make excellent mothers for a few years to come!

 

[GreenGoddess]

Quote:
If you think that's strange, try having an 8 week old production red that did the same thing with the four 4 day old chicks I had and then finding out the one that was mothering them was a ROOSTER!! LOL... I just knew she was a she because a roo would never take care of chicks like that.. Then I saw saddle feathers and hackle feathers!!!

Goddess

 

[mboreham1]

that is awesome! Not to get on the wrong side of people here.......... but an identity challenged chicken! Does "he" sing an egg song too?!!!!

I hope these turn out to be great mothers, i would love to start raising and selling 12-14 week old chicks for people to have eggs, having a motherly barred rock will help use space efficiently

M

 

[The Lisser]

I have a roo who acted like a "mama hen" too! I bought 2 ages of chicks when I picked up my 10 chickens last month - one polish/cochin mix that was mostly feathered, and I was SURE was a girl would let the little chicks under her wings, and she would make little noises to lead them to the food (still does that) . . . then one day last week "she" started crowing! And crowing, and crowing . . . I've heard that hens sometimes do crow, but it's a regular thing now, so i'm guessing a roo.

Melissa