Hen Abandoning 2 Week Old Chick

[hollandhens24]

I have a first time broody hen who has left her chick to roost with the rest of the flock at night for the past two nights. The chick is two weeks old today and this seems very young for the hen to wean it based on what I’ve read. She still seems attentive and protective during the day, but at night the chick is left on the floor while mama is roosting. Last night the chick was cheeping and distraught, tonight it had tucked itself into a nesting box and was quiet, I just worried about it getting cold at night with no way to warm. I placed them together in their own area, but I’m curious if I should leave them be or continue to intervene?

 

[rosemarythyme]

How high up is the roost? I'd consider tucking it next to mama on the roost instead.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree, put the chick on the roost next to mamma. Sometimes I will put a board there, but you don’t have to

 

[hollandhens24]

How high up is the roost? I'd consider tucking it next to mama on the roost instead.

It’s about 6 feet. There is a lower roost at about 4 feet, but only the pullets use it. Should I set them there in case the chick were to fall?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Is the chick a Silkie, Frizzle, or such that does not have "normal" feathering? Chicks with normal feathering should have their wings pretty well filled out so that can fall from height, spread their wings, and gently land. I personally would not worry about the chick falling from 6 feet if it has normal feathers. It can handle falling from 4 feet also but the 6 feet gives it a little more room to right itself.

That chick probably can't fly up that high yet though it should be getting pretty close. I'm disappointed that the hen did not go back to the ground to take care of the chick but some hens are better at that than others.

What are you nighttime lows? It is possible your chick could handle them even at 2 weeks but maybe not. That would be my main concern in figuring out what to do. My instinct is to put it on the roost with the hen but if your nighttime lows are in the lower 50's Fahrenheit (10 C) I might want to wait a bit in case it falls.

 

[hollandhens24]

Is the chick a Silkie, Frizzle, or such that does not have "normal" feathering? Chicks with normal feathering should have their wings pretty well filled out so that can fall from height, spread their wings, and gently land. I personally would not worry about the chick falling from 6 feet if it has normal feathers. It can handle falling from 4 feet also but the 6 feet gives it a little more room to right itself.

That chick probably can't fly up that high yet though it should be getting pretty close. I'm disappointed that the hen did not go back to the ground to take care of the chick but some hens are better at that than others.

What are you nighttime lows? It is possible your chick could handle them even at 2 weeks but maybe not. That would be my main concern in figuring out what to do. My instinct is to put it on the roost with the hen but if your nighttime lows are in the lower 50's Fahrenheit (10 C) I might want to wait a bit in case it falls.

It is normal feathered (WTB x Australorp). Nighttime temperatures are reaching 60°, so not freezing but I was definitely under the impression that might be too chilly for the little one since it doesn’t have any other chicks to snuggle with.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

It is normal feathered (WTB x Australorp). Nighttime temperatures are reaching 60°, so not freezing but I was definitely under the impression that might be too chilly for the little one since it doesn’t have any other chicks to snuggle with.

If it's been sleeping alone for a few days and seems fine, it'll probably be okay.

I have 3 chicks that are 5.5 weeks old. Their snuggly mom left them on the ground at 2 weeks.
*edit to add, it's warm here. Usually 60f+ at night. Very hot summer days, triple digits or high 90's.

They're still watched during the day (two moms co-raise them).
They've been trying to roost for a couple weeks, but don't get the routine yet. They'll eventually learn.

My birds seemed to take the roosting attempt as a sign that they can finally wean the chicks. So they no longer have constant supervision.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It is normal feathered (WTB x Australorp). Nighttime temperatures are reaching 60°, so not freezing but I was definitely under the impression that might be too chilly for the little one since it doesn’t have any other chicks to snuggle with.

Yes, in that questionable area. I'd probably put it up on the roost with mama but if you want to wait another week I would understand.

 

[hollandhens24]

If it's been sleeping alone for a few days and seems fine, it'll probably be okay.

I have 3 chicks that are 5.5 weeks old. Their snuggly mom left them on the ground at 2 weeks.
*edit to add, it's warm here. Usually 60f+ at night. Very hot summer days, triple digits or high 90's.

They're still watched during the day (two moms co-raise them).
They've been trying to roost for a couple weeks, but don't get the routine yet. They'll eventually learn.

My birds seemed to take the roosting attempt as a sign that they can finally wean the chicks. So they no longer have constant supervision.

It hasn’t slept alone because I have placed the hen back in the area that I have set up for them. She used to return to this every night and has just tried to join the flock the past two nights. I would imagine that the chick is probably ok, these things just always seem to happen when I’m leaving town for a few days and I need to try and sort things out

 

[K0k0shka]

Just like people, not all hens make good mothers. Some are more attentive than others. I've had one like that, and she sucked in other ways as well. Keep putting the hen and chick together one way or another (chick on roost or hen on floor) until they are able to put themselves to bed together without you. Sooner or later the chick will learn to fly/jump and will be able to join the hen. Or maybe the hen will remember that she needs to stay with the chick.