Hens and chicks

[Heartsopenwide]

When can I introduce my chick to the rest of the flock? I have mama and baby (a Buff Orpington and Silkie) separated from the flock because they attacked her only other chick; who didn’t make it. I am concerned that when mama is ready to return to the rest of the flock, baby will still be too small and will be lonely.

 

[LizzzyJo]

I am so sorry for this. It's always hard to lose a baby. I would first suggest that you not let mama brood again. If she can't protect her babies, then she isn't a fit broody - they've gotta have fire under those feathers to do incorporated brooding. I would separate mama and baby next to, but separated from the flock and have them there for a few weeks until you can try to introduce them. You could try to go to TSC and grab a few more babies to strengthen the baby army. Put them under mama at night. This all depends on the mom's personality and the age of the babies - I have not done this myself.

 

[Heartsopenwide]

I am so sorry for this. It's always hard to lose a baby. I would first suggest that you not let mama brood again. If she can't protect her babies, then she isn't a fit broody - they've gotta have fire under those feathers to do incorporated brooding. I would separate mama and baby next to, but separated from the flock and have them there for a few weeks until you can try to introduce them. You could try to go to TSC and grab a few more babies to strengthen the baby army. Put them under mama at night. This all depends on the mom's personality and the age of the babies - I have not done this myself.

This was her first hatch. I had water and food right next to her nesting box, but she still went outside. I have a large flock of 37 birds. Could that be more is the problem vs her parenting skill? She is super alert when I let them out in the yard supervised. She is in a brooder at night next to the three chicks I tried to graft with her (separated by hardwire cloth) and she pecks at them through the wire. She puffs up when I get close, but never attacks me when I pick up baby,

 

[Phaedra Geiermann]

My hen is also a first time mom, and 6 chicks are hatched under her. She always attacks me when I try to be close to baby chicks. I also seperated the mama hen + chicks from the other 4 adult hens. I just seperate a small area of the run for them, so they can see each other all the times.

There are several times chicks just went outside from the door gap (self-made, the quality is not qualified ), however the other 4 adult hens had no much interests in those chicks.

My chicks are 3 weeks old now, i plan to open the gate between two areas next weekend and see how things will go.

 

[eggbeforchicken]

My hen is also a first time mom, and 6 chicks are hatched under her. She always attacks me when I try to be close to baby chicks. I also seperated the mama hen + chicks from the other 4 adult hens. I just seperate a small area of the run for them, so they can see each other all the times.

There are several times chicks just went outside from the door gap (self-made, the quality is not qualified ), however the other 4 adult hens had no much interests in those chicks.

My chicks are 3 weeks old now, i plan to open the gate between two areas next weekend and see how things will go.

Hi i was wondering how you got no with opening the gate as my leghorns hen has just hatched 6 chick today , i have separated them from flock like you have could i open the gate today or is it to early ,?

 

[Phaedra Geiermann]

Hi i was wondering how you got no with opening the gate as my leghorns hen has just hatched 6 chick today , i have separated them from flock like you have could i open the gate today or is it to early ,?

I think the answer will be up to your flock. My other 4 hens so far show very less interests to those chicks, not even get too close to them. One of the reasons I seperate mama hen and chicks from the 4 adult hens is the current run needs to be re-strengthened with much finer hardware cloth (now just normal chicken wire that chicks can easily pass through, and i didn't have time till this weekend).

The suggestions i read here are to let chicks live with flock earlier, so you need to double check the conditions at your site for a most suitable option.