Aseel hen still "babying" her single fledge, hatched Jun 30 2025. She hand feeds him(?) by dropping food in front of him when he cries, which he cries a lot over any little thing, we've been caling him "the cry baby". He's pulled out feathers from the keel, that's that Aseel trait. Do any other chickens do this? I don't think so. This one chicken is sole hatch, Jun 30/Jul 1 2025. Hen seems in no wise eager to boot her "baby" out to fend for himself any time soon. One morning I watched as she taught him how to fight, chicken style. We've all experienced it but never gets boring witnessing mother hen teach her children something new every day. We had a bad storm this year and my husband went out in the middle of it to make sure "baby" was ok, because I could hear him "crying" out there but couldn't locate (he and mama were cowering from the rain underneath a giant sunflower plant even tho the covered patio mere yards away is completely available and they could just walk in, for their use) Hen seems to want to teach Baby to avoid human habitation! She even gives him buzz alarm sounds while I am providing them food. She gives him first pick of any meat foods, she really spoils this singleton. Hoping it's male, but I don't see any comb production yet. Not sure but was led to believe only the males pull out keel feathers, which this baby has done already. Mama and "Baby" have free range of backyard. Rooster and another hen are kept in aviary, apart from this Mama and Baby. If they weren't, the rooster would tear her skin and feathers by mounting and the older hen is just mean and bites her horribly. She's just grown skin and feathers back. I have chicken saddle, but it's extremely difficult if not impossible to attach it even when they're sleeping. It's hard to see from photo, but you can see pink skin peeping through the keel on the young chicken. They won't let me get a "head on" photo because the mother Hen keeps "hiding" and protecting the baby from me, a terrible threat. Oh! Funny kind of story, other day I was watching the "little one" get ready for afternoon snooze, mother by his side, he started his "cry babying" crying sounds, and she lifted up her wing and he tucked under. Mind you it was over 100 degrees outside.I have a broody who hatched out chicks four weeks ago. How long should I expect her to mother them? When will she eventually kick them out of the nest?
SOrry I didn't mean to make it all about MY birds lol! I Got carried away. My point is I have a "baby chicken" 7 weeks old and still being babied. I will try to keep updates on this to see how long Mama babies this chick
Attachments
Last edited: