Concerned...

[warmwater]

Today Harriet laid an egg.....She is in a 2x5 pen with her 5 - 5 week old chicks inside the hen house. After work when I was putting Harriet and the chicks outside in their yard pen, I noticed she did not make the clucking noises she use to when she was giving them a treat she had found in the grass. Tonight I put them back in the pen to go to sleep and she let them huddle under her. I have read that some mamma hens will peck and hurt the chicks. **Should I put her back with the other girls tomorrow?** I plan on leaving the chicks in the pen until they get older/bigger. Thanks

 

[Southernbelle]

When she's "weaning" the chicks, she will peck them to give them the idea that she's done with them, but after raising them for weeks I don't think she'll savage them. I noticed the grown-up chicks would always sleep next to their mama hen and she allowed that.

 

[warmwater]

Thanks Karen....I'll keep an eye on her and see how she does tomorrow....

 

[shuizar209]

She is passing the hint to her chicks that she is done rearing...