Mama hen not weaning her chicks

[TheresaMi]

One of my hens hatched 8 chicks in May. They are about 8 weeks old now(45 days). She has started to lay again a week ago but she isn't weaning her chicks. Is this normal?

They are fully integrated into the flock and roost with the adults at night near mama. Mama hen used to be bottom of pecking order but after becoming a mom and reintegrating back, she's top boss now. She doesn't call her chicks to eat anymore but she isn't shoo'ing them away when they are near her either. Sometimes they would swarm her while she's laying in the nest box and she still doesn't do anything about it. Should I step in or let nature handle it?

 

[sourland]

Is there a reason that you need to intercede? There is no set time when hens wean their chicks.

 

[TheresaMi]

Is there a reason that you need to intercede? There is no set time when hens wean their chicks.

The #1 reason would be that the chicks are making a mess in the nest boxes. They are playing and pooping in the other nests while they wait for the mama to finish laying.

 

[sourland]

Depending upon how bothersome this is you may need to separate them from the flock, but then you would have to go through the difficulty of reintegration.