Mama hen is abandoning babies after 4 1/2 weeks

[rosemarythyme]

I don’t have a “chick coop” I have a large walk in coop, and a small coop I use for sick chickens. I guess she doesn’t want them, but they cry all day when I take her away from them.

So the chicks are currently in the small "sick" coop? They'll adjust to being without her soon enough.

 

[Purelychicks]

So the chicks are currently in the small "sick" coop? They'll adjust to being without her soon enough.

Yes. (I haven’t put “sick” chickens in there for a while) it’s 103• where I live so I’m assuming they’ll be fine

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes. (I haven’t put “sick” chickens in there for a while) it’s 103• where I live so I’m assuming they’ll be fine

Yeah heat is the bigger problem then, for both adults and the chicks. Hopefully the small coop is sitting in some shade with good ventilation?

 

[Purelychicks]

Yeah heat is the bigger problem then, for both adults and the chicks. Hopefully the small coop is sitting in some shade with good ventilation?

It’s pretty open and under trees

 

[User105877]

Sounds perfectly normal. Some hens are more aggressive at weaning chicks than others. I’ve had hens run chicks off from them, sometimes chicks just start leaving on their own, and others still have their chicks following them by the time the sit on eggs again.

 

[User105877]

At 6 weeks they should be fine without any supplemental heat, so long as they are protected from drafts.

 

[Purelychicks]

It's not secure if things are getting in. Any photos of your chick coop set up?

Regardless of where you house the chicks, the hen is done with them and should not be forced to stay with them. At 4 1/2 weeks (and with summer temps) the chicks do not need her anymore either.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So snakes have been getting in here? Or snakes are getting into the adult coop? I assume there's no apron around the perimeter of this coop/run.

 

[LizzzyJo]

I would just keep them incorporated with the flock. She’s weaning them, as has been said. Perfectly normal if not hard to watch.

 

[Purelychicks]

So snakes have been getting in here? Or snakes are getting into the adult coop? I assume there's no apron around the perimeter of this coop/run.

Snakes get into the adult coop