age of independence

[cactus-hen]

How long should a hen keep her chicks with her? The chicks are half her size and she still is caring for them. They are going on 11 weeks old now. They still try to get underneath her at night. I had to put a platform on the roost as they would push each other off the roost trying to get under. She still chases any other chicken away from them during the day.

 

[TheFarmMama]

I hatch mine out in an incubator but as far as I understand as of 8wks whether they hatched from a broody or a bator they are good to go so yours are plenty old enough. Someone please correct me if that is wrong for some reason.