Lone chick with mamma hen

[Nicky S]

We had a very staggered hatch, and only one baby (the first) was able to go with his mamma as the rest hatched 10 days plus later (we have 5 inside the house). Baby 1 (Muffin) is now 4 weeks old and mamma is starting to worry less about him. What happens when she has had enough? The others will probably still be too young to go with the flock - Muffin is terrified of the other hens. Should I have Muffin and the rest in a separate pen inside the run? We are currently extending the run and I’m hoping I can have one coop in the larger area and one inside the pen. Will Muffin accept his younger siblings ok? It should be warming up soon but do they need to be fully feathered if they don’t have a mamma to keep them warm? We are in southern CT. Attached some pics of big brother with mamma and the inside babies.

 

[Yardmom]

Mother hens will do a form of weening and push babies away. I have had a hen do this as early as 2 weeks. Normally it seems to happen when they are about 6 weeks old. The chicks that are inside need some heat until they are feathered. Then they can be integrated with the flock. The older chick may be accepted into the younger group then, but not for sure. Lone chicks have a ruff start in life. The younger group will not fully blend with the adults until they hit laying age.

 

[Nicky S]

Mother hens will do a form of weening and push babies away. I have had a hen do this as early as 2 weeks. Normally it seems to happen when they are about 6 weeks old. The chicks that are inside need some heat until they are feathered. Then they can be integrated with the flock. The older chick may be accepted into the younger group then, but not for sure. Lone chicks have a ruff start in life. The younger group will not fully blend with the adults until they hit laying age.

Thank you - poor little guy. The mamma does bring him inside the house a couple of times a day, but he seems terrified of the younger ones as well. Maybe I should have them interact more now that mamma isn’t as hormonal as before?