How old are the chicks when you finially take them away from Momma?

Diamond (white silkie) hatched out 5 babies, 8/9 weeks ago and she is still mothering them, some of them are almost as big as she is, my question is when should I seperate her from her chicks. Even though she is still Mothering these chicks, I need the space for a nother broody.
Everytime I go to get one of her chicks she attacks me and bites hard not just a peck either. Its more like a dog with a rag toy, its a grab , pinch, hang on and twisty kinda bite. She is normally so sweet but these chicks made her into a little devil Mom. Is she going to freak out when I take them? whats the best way to do it? Thanks Sandy


here is a picture of Momma Diamonds and her Kiddos.

 

Quote:Thankyou, I will give it ago! for future Reference, LOL, what is the right age to seperate a mother and her chicks if need be. I mean an age that they no longer need to be in a brooder or their mother for warmth and so on. I know that I (when I keep chicks in a brooder) they usually stay indoors longer than needed,) but if there hatched outside and raised in a coop with there mother are they more able to cope with weather changes and that type of thing? Just wondering because I have a broody that will be going into the pen next as soon as I get Diamond and her chickies out. I would like to rotate them as soon as possible because like I said , I have very limited space. Thanks again , Sandy

 

Quote:Problem is the area that there in is about 4 feet wide and about 5 feet long plus the brooder box which is about 3 feet square and they do get out to free range I own 3 lots here in town and they have the run of it WHILE Im outside only though, but , But eventually they will have to go into the big coop with the others (mixed breeds.) that kinda scares me. At least until I find them new homes. I was wondering if you left your broody hens to hatch and raise her babys in with the main flock?, I'm kinda afraid that the big chickens will kill the young birds? I've never had that happen but heard alot of stories about it and I was too scared to do it. LOL. Diamonds never done anything stupid with her chicks but she bites the crap out of me when I try and get the chicks out. (But that really don't count, she is just trying to be a really good momma). Momma and chicks regularly fly the coop to free range so I don't think there being forced to stay together but I don't know? I do lock them up together at night in the brooder box that is covered in hardware cloth for safetys sake. the pen its self for daytime is just chicken wire and low enough for them to get out it seems. Thanks again , Sandy

 

Quote:Thankyou!! Mom and babies have been outside in the brooder box next to the main pen/coop since they were about 2 weeks and they do free range with my 3 yr old SS hen and 5 of the 18 week old SS chicks, and they seem to get along fine, but they are very low in the pecking order and very sweet, however the silkie chicks stick like glue to Momma and Momma doesn't let them get too close to her babies, And Yeah Diamond is Tiny, but she is one tough little cookie!!
So the plan is to let the SS out with Diamond and the chicks and let out a few of the other girls tomarrow should I let the dominant hen out first with them and see how she reacts? and then some of the other hens? Or just let them all go at the same time? Marta, head hen just took over the flock as I lost Maisy top hen a little while back due to heat so she is being very aggressive to the lower ranking hens, She still bosses the SS chicks around alot but there FAST to get away! Or just let them all go at the same time, sheesh this is scary! LOL .

I think your right I just got to do it!!! I will be out with them! and see what happens! They look big standing next to Momma but there so small in comparison to the other girls and Diamond is sooooo tiny!

I'm so making this much harder than it needs to be aren't I!!

 

Quote:...I've never had a broody mama attack me like you describe!
Yeah and she is normally such a sweetheart, She did a 180 in the personality dept. LOL go figure! Ok its a plan then, but I will have my chicken stick available. LOL Hey thanks for all the support! It really helps alot! I will keep ya posted as to the progress! Thanks again Sandy