Foster mother turning on 2 month old

[drjulian]

Our Lavender Orpington tends to be a broader. In fact when our RI reds lay their eggs she will take over the nest and sit on them.

We decided to leave a few in the nest to hatch. Over time, 3 of the 4 eggs wound up broken or pushed out of the nest by her. The other one hatched. Our flock if free range, so we placed the Orphington and the new chick in a separate closed coop for 2 months until the baby was big enough to survive outside. When we released them to free range during the day with the others, she would protect the chick from the rooster and the other chickens keeping her close and attacking anyone who went after the baby.

Each night she and the baby would return to the isolated coop to sleep (baby under her wing) while the others returned to the main coop.

The baby is clearly from the RI reds, so the Orphington fostered her and treated her like her own.

Yesterday, with the chick now 3 1/2 months old and just as large as the other RI reds, I have blocked off the isolated coop to force the new baby and foster mother to start sleeping with the others in the main coop. (The isolated coop is much smaller and used mainly as a nursery, introduction coop and hospital)

Today I noticed the Orphington attacking the chick which she protected so fiercely as recently as yesterday.

Now the baby stays away from everyone as she has no allies and everyone attacks her when she gets close.

Is this normal? Will the mother (foster or otherwise) suddenly changed from protector to attacker?

 

[Chickassan]

She isn't attacking, she's weaning the chick. It is time, perfectly normal but still sad.

 

[drjulian]

She isn't attacking, she's weaning the chick. It is time, perfectly normal but still sad.

Thanks for the reply...yes it is very sad...the chick looks lost and scared all the time...but nature will takes it course.

 

[Chickassan]

True, the baby will eventually work into the flock but it will be rough for a while. Adults aren't too nice to the youngsters until they're crowing or laying.

Thanks for the reply...yes it is very sad...the chick looks lost and scared all the time...but nature will takes it course.

 

[mixedbreeds]

I had an australorp hen that would wean her chicks at 7 weeks every time. She was a great mother but at that 7 week mark wam she would give them a good peck when they got close. Soon after she would start to lay again.

 

[aart]

Our flock if free range, so we placed the Orphington and the new chick in a separate closed coop for 2 months until the baby was big enough to survive outside.

Why wait so long?
Best for mama and chick(s) to be with flock with a week or two of hatch...
...makes integration and weaning easier, IMO.