Light Sussex mama not protective

[eridzone]

Hi Everyone,

I have 5 pure breed Light Sussex hens, this spring(last month) one went broody and i bought fertile eggs for her. Good day came, we had cute chicks in our coop.

Happy moments finished here, now the very first day i let the broody mama out with chicks into the run with other flock hens tried to chase the chicks and mama literally had big fight (like game bird roosters) with the top hen, mama was the lowest in pecking order before getting broody. After that incident chicks are scared and stay in the little pen inside the coop and rarely come out because that was the only protective instinct i saw in the broody mama but now she does not care if any hen or human approaches her chicks or pecks at them. Mama is still helping the chicks to stay warm, finding the food and water and they all sleep together in their Pen but during the day broody mama and her chicks are still pecked by other hens she just growls with feather raised and do nothing to protect the chicks.

I am worried how to handle the situation if any worse accident happens or worst if she starts loosing interest in chicks.

How good are the Light Sussex as mama?

Thanks in advance

 

[Gearhead846]

I would get a brooder ready just in case.
Or you could keep them separated from the rest of the flock but to where they can see each other but not pick at your baby chicks or you're hen just so they get used to her. and if this hen ever goes broody again I wouldn't place fertile eggs under her I know some people like to give the hens a second chance but I do not believe it it is the right option

I'm sorry you have this issue and I hope it never happens again.

 

[eridzone]

I would get a brooder ready just in case.
Or you could keep them separated from the rest of the flock but to where they can see each other but not pick at your baby chicks or you're hen just so they get used to her. and if this hen ever goes broody again I wouldn't place fertile eggs under her I know some people like to give the hens a second chance but I do not believe it it is the right option

I'm sorry you have this issue and I hope it never happens again.

Thanks Gearhead846, I was thinking to get brooder too but i see the separation fence kind of future proof solution because we cannot lock the chicks for long time ultimately they will need to hang along the rest

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
It sounds like you don't have enough space for her to work with.
How old are the chicks now?
How many hens do you have?
How large is the run and what is in it?
How large is the coop?
How large is the pen that the momma and chicks have been in?

 

[eridzone]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
It sounds like you don't have enough space for her to work with.

hello DobieLover,

Does that mean if four hens and one broody mama with her chicks live in one coop they will always battle each other unless they have huge run to keep the distance??

 

[eridzone]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
It sounds like you don't have enough space for her to work with.
How old are the chicks now?
How many hens do you have?
How large is the run and what is in it?
How large is the coop?
How large is the pen that the momma and chicks have been in?

chicks are now week old
Run area is actually a fenced portion of my backyard(sorry wife does not like the dropping everywhere) and is quite big.
I noticed when other hens are not hungry or are not near food where chicks try to jump in they dont chase chicks.

My main concern is will mama be able to protect them in long run?

 

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. A lot depends upon available space. Age of chicks is also a factor some hens wean their chicks earlier than others.

 

[eridzone]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. A lot depends upon available space. Age of chicks is also a factor some hens wean their chicks earlier than others.

Hello sourland, you are right about space but dont you think this age is too early for broody to wean?

 

[sourland]

It is definitely early. I'd provide multiple feed and water stations to cut down on the feed competition. Perhaps even provide a creep feeder for the chicks.

 

[eridzone]

Will try that.

Thanks all for your helpful advices, one question remain here, why mama is not protecting the chicks after day one, i mean the aggression she had on first day is nowhere now? and is Light sussex a reliable broody by nature in general?