Hen longing for weaned babies?

[Kalimak]

Hi everyone,

Recently, one of my hens weaned her babies off and rejoined the main flock. That happened this past Tuesday. Since then, she's been clucking constantly all day, as if she's looking for something or waiting on something. Now, I don't speak chicken, so I'm just assuming from what I see. On Wednesday, my other broody hatched all her eggs and were moved to their own house. Now the first hen who weaned her babies a day before, keeps going to the newly hatched house and looking in there as if she wants to get to the new babies (I have the door blocked with chicken wire) so nothing is going in, or out of there.

My question is, could the first hen be missing the babies? Is she confused? or is this just a normal behavior since she's going to be starting to lay again? I haven't seen this before. So any help on understanding this behavior is appreciated.

 

[chickens really]

Why aren't her Chicks with her. I think she was trying to get them introduced back into the flock. If she is calling for them, she never weaned them.

 

[Kalimak]

Why aren't her Chicks with her. I think she was trying to get them introduced back into the flock. If she is calling for them, she never weaned them.

I'm not sure. They babies, and the main flock now hang out all together though. She's been a full time mom for the past 6 weeks.

 

[chickens really]

I'm not sure. They babies, and the main flock now hang out all together though. She's been a full time mom for the past 6 weeks.

So her 6 week old Chicks are with her?..

 

[Shorty22366]

She is still teaching them. They should be with her she will protect them from the flock. She doesn't know why they aren't still with her learning. If the chicks aren't with her put them back with her.

 

[coach723]

My experience with broodies is that when they are done they drive the chicks away and they are DONE. The chicks may still try to be with momma, but she's having none of it, and not the other way around. If she didn't choose to be done, then put them back with her until she does. Some hens will go broody again right after they finish with a batch of chicks, so she may be thinking of brooding again if she did decide she was done with them.

 

[Kalimak]

My experience with broodies is that when they are done they drive the chicks away and they are DONE. The chicks may still try to be with momma, but she's having none of it, and not the other way around. If she didn't choose to be done, then put them back with her until she does. Some hens will go broody again right after they finish with a batch of chicks, so she may be thinking of brooding again if she did decide she was done with them.

I have the same experience, which is why i'm confused. The chicks are being around her, but she seems like she's done with them, she does something that makes them flee from her, I'm not sure if it's a look, or a sound she's making, but she makes them run away from her, to an extent.

 

[Kalimak]

So her 6 week old Chicks are with her?..

Well, they're hanging out in the same group, they're not separated.

 

[chickens really]

Well, they're hanging out in the same group, they're not separated.

Alright..Then the Hen is just being a Hen. She is possibly interested in the Peeps from the new Chicks.

 

[aart]

Some hens are terminally broody.
She weaned her chicks(chases them away).
The newer chicks may have sparked her broodiness again.
It's chemical(hormones) not emotional('longing').