How Long Will Mom Warm Her Chicks

[zephyr66]

Hi all... I searched the forum but couldn't find an answer to this. My hen just hatched chicks about a week ago. It's pretty cold here - down in the 20's at night but 60's during the day. About how long will momma provide warmth to the young birds until she is done caring for them?

Thank you,

Sylvia

 

[Ridgerunner]

Until she is done caring for them. In the heat of summer, i've had one stop after 3 weeks, though that is pretty unusual. Even in summer 4 weeks is more normal and even longer is not unusual. My longest has been 9 weeks though by then they were too big to sleep under her.

What will happen is that the chicks will grow up in the cold weather. They will get used to the cold weather and feather out pretty fast. By the time they are five weeks old they won't need her to warm them. She may stay with them longer but they really won't need her.

 

[zephyr66]

Thanks for the fast answer!! And, hi to beautiful Arkansas from California.

 

[The Breaker]

I had a BA hen that stayed with her chicks and slept on the ground with them and they where pretty much fully feathered.

 

[donrae]

Several weeks, usually until they're at least mostly feathered. And when she does "wean" them, they often huddle together and keep each other warm for another few weeks, on the ground or on the roost.
I have a broody, I swear she had a calender and broods her chicks for six weeks. After that, she's back on the roost and they're on their own!