Help with 5-week-old chick behavior

[bantyjava14]

Hi everyone. My Mottled Java hen hatched 4 Java/Bantam cross chicks 5 weeks ago. She took very good care of them, protected them from the rest of the flock (even though the other chickens could have cared less about the newcomers) until about 1-1/2 weeks ago. She suddenly turned on the chicks, chasing them around and pecking at them. Since then the chicks have holed up inside the coop in some dark corner or underneath nesting boxes, not venturing out unless the others are outside in our pasture, and when the rest return and roost for the night, the chicks stay outside even though it is fairly cold at 40 degrees. They seemed traumatized since mama Java chased them around. This is our first natural hatch, not sure what to do to help these little ones. Any advise?

 

[red horse ranch]

Hi everyone. My Mottled Java hen hatched 4 Java/Bantam cross chicks 5 weeks ago. She took very good care of them, protected them from the rest of the flock (even though the other chickens could have cared less about the newcomers) until about 1-1/2 weeks ago. She suddenly turned on the chicks, chasing them around and pecking at them. Since then the chicks have holed up inside the coop in some dark corner or underneath nesting boxes, not venturing out unless the others are outside in our pasture, and when the rest return and roost for the night, the chicks stay outside even though it is fairly cold at 40 degrees. They seemed traumatized since mama Java chased them around. This is our first natural hatch, not sure what to do to help these little ones. Any advise?

I've had hens decide that they've had enough by the time the chicks are 3 or 4 weeks old. I usually take the chicks and finish raising them myself. At 5 weeks they really still need a form of heat for another week or two. And protection. Can you fence off a little section of the coop and hang a lamp for them? Even a 40 watt bulb will give them some comfort.
Some hens want the brooding part but not the raising part of chicks. Makes me think of a few human mothers I've known.

 

[browland84]

Sounds like you might have to take over for mama hen. Can you set up a brooder in your house? Get them a red light and their own food and water?

 

[bantyjava14]

Okay, thanks. They do have a separate pen inside the chicken coop but I had turned off the light figuring they were okay since they had their feathers. I will turn their red lamp back on for another couple of weeks. Thanks for replying!

 

[bantyjava14]

They do have their own fenced area, food and water, inside the chicken coop. I had turned their light off but will turn it back on for a couple more weeks. Thanks!