flock attacking mama hen

[lkm24]

Our mama Chantecler and her six 3-week-old chicks are still staying in a separate part of the coop. But every once in a while when the lid to their box is open, the mama hen jumps out for a breather. When she does, all the other hens attack her - pecking, running after her.... vicious!

Does anyone have experience with this? Why do all the other hens attack her? And is there anything I can do to protect her?

Thanks so much for any advice you've got! Also - thanks to those of you who urged me to "let mama do her job." It's been such a joy to watch this natural chicken family! Way better than heat lamps for raising chicks.

 

[realmofthewoodsranch]

Awww, poor thing!!

Hope you get an answer soon!

 

[Mahlzeit]

Did you have her seperate while she incubated the eggs? I would say it has to do with their pecking order. Everytime I put a hen back in with the flock after she raised her babies the same thing happens. I always feel bad and keep and eye on it that it won't get too out of hand. Things calm back down when she finds her spot in the pecking order. I would just keep her seperate until the babies are grown and put them all in together so it's not just her they are all after.

 

[lkm24]

Thanks - that's very helpful. Yes, she was separate from the rest of the flock when she brooded the eggs.

I've been hoping to combine the hen & chicks with the rest of the flock when the chicks are feathered out - 5 weeks or so. Especially since the mother hen is getting antsy. (I put the family out in the grass in a pen on warm days, which helps.)

How old are your chicks when you integrate them & their mom with the rest of the flock?

 

[Mahlzeit]

I wait until the chicks are similar in size personally. They need their grower feed to about 18 weeks. So I usually wait until then. Many people put them together earlier though. I just prefer to keep them on the grower feed until 18 weeks.

 

[calgal98]

I have a large coop so have room to implement this so here is what I would do. (I do this with babies being integrated) I've made a panel that fits a corner+ of my coop. It has small opening on the bottom of it, lots and lots. In fact I use horse fencing 2x4, and cut every other link to create a freeflowing access for the little chicks. I put their feeder and waterer in the enclosure so they have full access to it. I put the chicks in there with their light or heat lamp depending on how old they are. When they are brave enough they venture out and explore. They have always run back to safety when the larger pullets come in and start squawking at them. It took about 2 weeks for them to fully integrate. Now they all roost together and I've taken out the safety net. I'm getting ready to do this with the next group of brooders.

You might try something similar with your hen/chicks so they can get re-familiarized with the larger flock. Protected yet visible. Let the hen wander out while the chicks are safe. Hen can fend for herself but chicks can't really.

 

[lkm24]

Great advice - thanks so much!

We'd been thinking we'd try some method for giving chicks access to their food while making the layer ration inaccessible. Your plan sounds really good.

I have no idea yet how the flock will accept the chicks - they've been totally separate so far. I hope they'll be more welcoming than they've been with the poor mama hen! If they aren't then I may go to Mahlzeit's system of keeping them separate till they can really defend themselves. It's a brutal world out there!

 

[jhfields]

That's not good, that haven't happen to me.

 

[RAWR]

omg! poor thing :[
hope everything turns out okay for her