I have a silkie raising 2 EE pullets in a large cage in my basement. I have been letting them all out to free range with the rest of my flock during the day, but at night the chickies still sleep under Mama in the basement. They don't have a heat lamp anymore, but are in a room with chickie in another tub that still have the lamp, so its pretty warm down there.
Mama laid an egg today, and I heard that means she's done raising the chicks. She leaves them alone to fend for themselves out in the yard, but they still want her warmth at night. I thought about leaving her out tonight, but she was very discontent in the coop with the other birds, so I put her back in the basement, where both she and the chicks seemed very happy.
Quesion: when should babies be weened from Mama? Should I just integrate them all back together in a couple of weeks when its warmer outside? Its still pretty cold at night and Mama has been downstairs so long, she is no longer as fluffy.
Mama laid an egg today, and I heard that means she's done raising the chicks. She leaves them alone to fend for themselves out in the yard, but they still want her warmth at night. I thought about leaving her out tonight, but she was very discontent in the coop with the other birds, so I put her back in the basement, where both she and the chicks seemed very happy.
Quesion: when should babies be weened from Mama? Should I just integrate them all back together in a couple of weeks when its warmer outside? Its still pretty cold at night and Mama has been downstairs so long, she is no longer as fluffy.
