Mama is done with chicks and it's chilly out

[amama]

We've never had hen raised chicks before and it was SO much better than store bought chicks. Our mama hen was amazing with her chicks until we moved her back to the coop with them, and then decided she's done with them and starting laying eggs again. The chicks are about 5 weeks old.
Is this normal?

She has completely left them to fend for themselves, so at night they are huddling in hidden places instead of going in the coop, and are pretty cold in the mornings (it's hot during the day). They still try to follow her but she ignores them, doesn't defend them against the rooster or the older hens anymore, and they seem completely lost I'm not even sure they are getting water because they get run off every time.

It makes no sense to me to bring them into a brooder at this point (and they are hard to catch!) but should I just hope things get sorted out, or would you do something else?

Thanks

 

[Trux]

At 5 weeks it is normal for mom to wean her chicks. If they are getting run off from water and feed you may want to add more watering and feed stations.

 

[azygous]

At five weeks, chicks can fend for themselves, and they do huddle for warmth. Your hen knows this and weaning at five weeks may be a tad early, but it's still in the realm of normal.

You can take measures to make life a little easier on the tykes, though. I raised a brood of chicks recently in my run under the heating pad system. It's normal for chicks to wean themselves off heat at around five weeks. This is what mine did. They also surprised me by immediately taking to roosting in the coop once I moved them in there from their safe pen in the run.

Here in Colorado it's been a rather chilly spring. On very cold days, I rigged a heating pad on a feed sack cushion so the chicks could get an infusion of heat while they rested. There were a few freezing nights, and I was a bit concerned they wouldn't be able to adequately huddle on the perch, so I wrapped the heating pad around the perch for them to roost on. (Inventors- heated perches could make you millions!)

As far as the hassle-free access to food and water, create a safe pen with small openings (5 x 7 inches and make more than one) so the chicks can access those essentials and not be driven off by adult bullies. At nearly ten weeks, my chicks are still using their "panic room" to eat and loaf in peace and safety.

 

[Henriettamom919]

At five weeks, chicks can fend for themselves, and they do huddle for warmth. Your hen knows this and weaning at five weeks may be a tad early, but it's still in the realm of normal.

You can take measures to make life a little easier on the tykes, though. I raised a brood of chicks recently in my run under the heating pad system. It's normal for chicks to wean themselves off heat at around five weeks. This is what mine did. They also surprised me by immediately taking to roosting in the coop once I moved them in there from their safe pen in the run.

Here in Colorado it's been a rather chilly spring. On very cold days, I rigged a heating pad on a feed sack cushion so the chicks could get an infusion of heat while they rested. There were a few freezing nights, and I was a bit concerned they wouldn't be able to adequately huddle on the perch, so I wrapped the heating pad around the perch for them to roost on. (Inventors- heated perches could make you millions!)

As far as the hassle-free access to food and water, create a safe pen with small openings (5 x 7 inches and make more than one) so the chicks can access those essentials and not be driven off by adult bullies. At nearly ten weeks, my chicks are still using their "panic room" to eat and loaf in peace and safety.

I *almost* bought one when my littles moved outside-Pretty good reviews for this type of product!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ERDCKVW/?tag=backy-20

 

[azygous]

I *almost* bought one when my littles moved outside-Pretty good reviews for this type of product!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ERDCKVW/?tag=backy-20

Hah! There you go! Someone is making millions!