How quickly does a broody hen kick out the chicks

[Ridgerunner]

I almost always have juvenile chickens with the flock with several broods a year. I never feed Layer. I use a low calcium feed and offer oyster shells on the side. The ones that need the calcium for egg shells seem to know it and eat the oyster shells while the ones not laying do not eat enough to harm themselves.

 

[K0k0shka]

The main concern i had with not keeping with the main flock was feed. Mama hen and chicks were on crumb and rest of flock was on layers pellets. I would need to switch the whole flock to grower feed when i plan to integrate them together. I guess that would be around the 12 week time to switch from crumb right ?

I don’t use layer feed either. I have chicks with the flock every year and feed everybody flock raiser 20% protein, with eggshells on the side. So no switching.

 

[SueT]

My most recent mama weaned her lone chick at 4 weeks. It turned out to be a cockerel, maybe she knew, maybe would have kept pullets longer.
This was 2 yrs ago, he’s now the flock leader, and a good one too.

 

[Over-anxiousChickenWoman]

Thanks for the advice and consolation, have just counted the weeks and my hen started tiring of the chicks and laying again 7 weeks pretty much to the day. I have been letting them free-range for the past 3-4 weeks as she was so protective, she kept them in the garden near the house. I will know next time to stop them free-ranging as soon as the hen starts to lose interest - last night I lost a lovely little hen, they must have followed Opie up the drive and she didn't make sure they were with her when she came back. 3 of them made it back but after 2 hours of searching I found a little pile of white down near the neighbouring farm's gate. Poor little thing, feel terrible, will know next time. RIP little white chicken.

It is brutal, isn't it? They still go cheeping up to their mum and she chases them away quite viciously. They have slightly broody-mad Auntie Goldie who doesn't seem to mind them being about too much but still pecks them away if they try to get in on the food before she's had her fill. That blinking pecking-order is no fun but am sure they will all calm down soon. Glad for this board.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I'm sorry a predator got the chick.

 

[Over-anxiousChickenWoman]

I'm sorry a predator got the chick.

Thank you - tough lesson learned, ugh!

 

[altballard]

I've got a broody with 3 chicks going on 7 weeks in a few days. She just squared this morning for me. During the day she lets the chicks be in their sub-flock but has them still sleeping in the nesting box with her that I can tell. I'll have to go out tonight to confirm this of course. If she is I'm still waiting for her to kick them out of the nest. Do you think she is waiting because of the declining temperatures?
If she is NOT in with them I'm going to have to close the nesting boxes at night so the go to the roost to sleep.

 

[SueT]

Since replying to this thread in May, I had a broody raise chicks and it was 3 whole months before she weaned them this time. Same hen that weaned a previous chick at 4 weeks.
They were her precious babies one day, and the next day she couldn’t stand them anymore.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Mine range from weeking at 2 weeks (not normal, she has neuro issues) to 3 or 4 months occasionally

 

[LuciferRoo]

I have a hen that is still with her 2 month old chicks. They all sleep on a roosting bar, but follow her around mostly. They actually are part of a small flock that mostly sticks together.
The rooster, mother and another hen plus 7 little ones. Ten of them are usually wondering around as a group, and Peter (the rooster) keeps away the young roosters from a flock of about 20 who are all now 6 months old.

I am hoping this dynamic continues and they all stay together.
I also hope that my mama hen starts laying soon.