mama abandons baby at 3 weeks

[dstinett]

My black Australorp keeps leaving her 3 week old chick. She leaves it on the ground while she roosts. I took it away. Luckily I have a batch of babies around same age. They did not seem to mind one extra. I've noticed other hens leaving babies at 4-5 weeks, but never this early. I have some hens that still treat their adult babies like they were 2 weeks old

 

[sourland]

Just as with all others animals - some are far better mothers than other. One thing to bear in mind - GOOD mothers generally produce daughters who are good mothers.

 

[dstinett]

I guess it goes the same for bad mothers. She is a hatchery chicken. I assume her mama never got to raise babies

 

[centrarchid]

Sometimes is pays to have a backup parent.

 

[goldfinches]

I won't let some of my hens, when they go broody, adopt or hatch any chicks because they don't watch the babies properly, take care of them, teach them, basically mother them. I've had others, who are very mothering, take over for them before.

Maybe you should make sure next time she gets some chicks, there's another broody with similar age chicks at the same time in case she flakes again...

 

[centrarchid]

With some of mine a larger brood is a stronger stimulus for inducing parental behavior.