We actually left them with her until mom herself decided she was done. It was more gradual with her last brood but this time Dory just woke up one day and decided, no more! You'll definitely know when she's done; the chicks continue to try and follow her around and take food from her, but she'll start pecking them for their efforts. She'll stop making the food noise that calls them over and will try to swallow treats as fast as possible so that she can have them to herself! Dory also stopped following them during free range time and instead would hang out by the rest of the flock, and she stopped jumping to defend them when they were pecked by another hen. It's actually kind of sad, seeing Dory go from attentive to apathetic! Nature is amazing but can be kind of harsh too.
She kept them for about two months, maybe a little under that.
I love when chicks ride on their moms! It's just too cute. And those little peaks from under her wings.
You should get some pictures if you can! They're only cute for so long after all. Then they turn into dinosaurs.
I'm pretty poor with color genetics so I'm not quite sure what your little ones will look like. It'd be nice if they got a bit of that blue coloring in them, though.
I love when chicks ride on their moms! It's just too cute. And those little peaks from under her wings.
I'm pretty poor with color genetics so I'm not quite sure what your little ones will look like. It'd be nice if they got a bit of that blue coloring in them, though.
