Broody hen deserting her chicks...

[Toetwo]

I have a French Moran who went broody. I got a few fertilized eggs from a friend and now have 4 chicks. A month in, the broody hen has decided she'd rather be out and about. I am not sure if she is just wanting more space, (they have a fenced in area of about 10 by 15 and a 8 x4 coop) or if she is flapping her feathers to freedom. I'd much prefer the chicks to have a nice warm mama to huddle under. It's still in the 40s here in NH. And, because they've had their mother up to now, is it okay to just leave them to huddle together at night or do I need to do some sort of a warmer? Hm....

 

[Mamatomany123]

I have a French Moran who went broody. I got a few fertilized eggs from a friend and now have 4 chicks. A month in, the broody hen has decided she'd rather be out and about. I am not sure if she is just wanting more space, (they have a fenced in area of about 10 by 15 and a 8 x4 coop) or if she is flapping her feathers to freedom. I'd much prefer the chicks to have a nice warm mama to huddle under. It's still in the 40s here in NH. And, because they've had their mother up to now, is it okay to just leave them to huddle together at night or do I need to do some sort of a warmer? Hm....

They're 4 weeks old? She may be weaning them. At 4 weeks my chicks are already roosting in the coop with the big girls.

 

[neo71665]

If it was me I'd set up a brooder and let her go. Some chickens are bad mommas but at 4 weeks old she is weening them IMHO.

 

[DobieLover]

If it was me I'd set up a brooder and let her go. Some chickens are bad mommas but at 4 weeks old she is weening them IMHO.

She's not a bad mother. She's weening them. 4 weeks is not at all unheard of for mother hens to ween their chicks.

The chicks should be fine on their own.
ETA: they should go with their mother to join the flock. They actually should have had access to the flock as soon as the mother took them off the nest.

 

[Toetwo]

They're 4 weeks old? She may be weaning them. At 4 weeks my chicks are already roosting in the coop with the big girls.

 

[Toetwo]

She's not a bad mother. She's weening them. 4 weeks is not at all unheard of for mother hens to ween their chicks.

The chicks should be fine in their own.

Cool. I will go out and decide best fencing. It would be great if she'd introduce them to the rest of the flock but I think she's done her duty! Thanks!

 

[LaFleche]

I have a French Moran who went broody. I got a few fertilized eggs from a friend and now have 4 chicks. A month in, the broody hen has decided she'd rather be out and about. I am not sure if she is just wanting more space, (they have a fenced in area of about 10 by 15 and a 8 x4 coop) or if she is flapping her feathers to freedom. I'd much prefer the chicks to have a nice warm mama to huddle under. It's still in the 40s here in NH. And, because they've had their mother up to now, is it okay to just leave them to huddle together at night or do I need to do some sort of a warmer? Hm....

Why don't you let them go with the mother hen? She will still keep an eye on them, warming them at night and they can learn the flock hierarchy.

 

[Toetwo]

Interesting! My past broodies have hung out long enough to introduce them but the entire housing situation was different then so . . .. Thanks!

 

[bobbi-j]

If they’re not integrated with the flock yet, I’d do so now if that’s your plan. The earlier you can integrate a broody and her chicks, the better. When they’re little, she’ll protect them as they learn proper flock behavior. If you wait until she weans them, they’ll have a harder time of it.

 

[Toetwo]

If they’re not integrated with the flock yet, I’d do so now if that’s your plan. The earlier you can integrate a broody and her chicks, the better. When they’re little, she’ll protect them as they learn proper flock behavior. If you wait until she weans them, they’ll have a harder time of it.

Ah. Ok. I just fixed the fencing so chicks stay in the chicken area--they are huddled alone under the quonset hut coop. Tonight, hopefully the mother will come get them. She was with them earlier... The other hens were hanging out. One gave one of the littles a peck for good measure but didn't even get a squeak out of baby so I think that's going to work out. Thanks for the advice.