hen raising chicks- normal weaning process?

[stuckinthecity]

I've had chickens on and off for about 20 years and never experienced a broody weaning her chicks like my current one. This is her first time around at being a mother, and seemed to do an excellent job until she started the weaning process. First she started pecking the largest cockerel (there are 2 roos/5 hens), then started attacking both and chasing them away. For about 2 days she only brooded the pullets and the roos were seen as outsiders or intruders. Today she decided her girls are ready and chased them away as well. Is it normal for them to wean the cockerels first? And so violently? My last broody stayed with her chicks until 8 or so weeks, and the one before her weaned all at the same time, but I've never had a hen wean them so violently.

 

[gander007]

I've had chickens on and off for about 20 years and never experienced a broody weaning her chicks like my current one. This is her first time around at being a mother, and seemed to do an excellent job until she started the weaning process. First she started pecking the largest cockerel (there are 2 roos/5 hens), then started attacking both and chasing them away. For about 2 days she only brooded the pullets and the roos were seen as outsiders or intruders. Today she decided her girls are ready and chased them away as well. Is it normal for them to wean the cockerels first? And so violently? My last broody stayed with her chicks until 8 or so weeks, and the one before her weaned all at the same time, but I've never had a hen wean them so violently.

Sounds like a keeper and yes she is being typical of what I notice in our yard ...





Our newest Mama pullet with 23 chicks and she is a master
at running the show .....



I heard a bunch of noise outside and went to inspect at geese were just so noise ...



This as the problem and the geese had their goslings in the brush ....


But Mama hen had her chicks all ice and quiet in a corner .....

 

[stuckinthecity]

So strange that I've had at least a dozen broodies and none have weaned their brood like that! My best broody was a little EE hen, but she could only cover 9 large eggs. Yours would be the keeper! Wow, I'm jealous- she hatched them herself or did you give her some chicks? I've been worried about crows these past 5 weeks...We've had major crow issues in the past when I "free ranged" the whole day while at work. We've lost whole broods...I hate them. I've seen them fight the hawks around here, but they definitely don't keep them away like I've heard so many times before.

 

[gander007]

So strange that I've had at least a dozen broodies and none have weaned their brood like that! My best broody was a little EE hen, but she could only cover 9 large eggs. Yours would be the keeper! Wow, I'm jealous- she hatched them herself or did you give her some chicks? I've been worried about crows these past 5 weeks...We've had major crow issues in the past when I "free ranged" the whole day while at work. We've lost whole broods...I hate them. I've seen them fight the hawks around here, but they definitely don't keep them away like I've heard so many times before.

The last ten egg's I took away from her and put in the incubator and finished the last four days of hatching and gave them back to her and she pecked me for touching her chicks ....

Her nest the day before the first hatch she got up for the first time that I could see....






Her first hatch .......





Funny how a little 2 pound chicken can cover so many egg's by puffing up .....






Finally found it she is only 20 weeks old here and the first day on the job or I should say night as I could not believe she started so early I had to record it as I never thought she would finish as she was just so young ........










gander007

 

[centrarchid]

Violence associated with weaning typically minimal. With my birds it occurs in steps and voice plays a critical role. First step at around five weeks involves hen's clucking to stop which occurs over a couple of days. During this interval males in particular begin competing for rank unless father is around. Hen continues to associate with brood and defends their interest and leads them during foraging. She also has the ability to walk away from by simply saying nothing. If interested in rebreeding then once she comes back into lay she gets unpleasant when going nest to deposit eggs but is otherwise good with young. About day before she goes broody again she gets really unpleasant. At this time her broody voice returns and offspring seem to no longer recognize her. A different outcome can occur when she does not decide to rebreed (especially late in season) and she stays with offspring until they are pushing 12 weeks. Voice changes in offspring then make so she does not recognize them. My males have voice changes earlier. My birds are games where young are always hen-raised so the may differ from stocks selected by many generations of brooder rearing.

 

[stuckinthecity]

gander- I'd keep a son of hers if she were mine. Those are some good genes she's displaying. Perfect homestead bird.

centrarchid- Ahh I didn't think of their voices changing! That explains it. I did notice the steps you observed though. And the stages of being broody...how she starts out basically smothering them with love, and is ever so careful around them...the next stage she teaches them to get out of the way and more of who's in charge chicken language. Unfortunately, I am dealing with hatchery birds...with little instinct lol. I can't wait until I can purchase some good game hens when I move out of the city. No rooster present here either...Only an old SLW hen who thinks she's a roo.

 

[Lady Angie]

I've had chickens on and off for about 20 years and never experienced a broody weaning her chicks like my current one. This is her first time around at being a mother, and seemed to do an excellent job until she started the weaning process. First she started pecking the largest cockerel (there are 2 roos/5 hens), then started attacking both and chasing them away. For about 2 days she only brooded the pullets and the roos were seen as outsiders or intruders. Today she decided her girls are ready and chased them away as well. Is it normal for them to wean the cockerels first? And so violently? My last broody stayed with her chicks until 8 or so weeks, and the one before her weaned all at the same time, but I've never had a hen wean them so violently.

I think that is what is happening. Her name is Miss Barbara, named for my best friend. She has four chicks, all female. I noticed that when I put food out for them today she didn't call them over to show them the food. She ate first. This afternoon I noticed she chased one of them away. One is older than the other three. A snake got in their pen and ate one of her two babies. So the next morning I went to the feed store and got her three more. If I go ahead and put Miss Barbara back with the other 8 hens we have will I keep the four babies confined?Wouldnt the other chickens attack the young chicks? I'm new at this.