Mom hen stopped caring for her chick

[Mania]

Hello again,
I am looking for some advice regarding my hen that stopped taking care of her chick after 4 weeks. It's the "bad mom" that stomped on some newly hatched chicks and only one survived. She took care of her single baby quite well, but started laying eggs again and is trying to run back to join the rest of the flock now. She doesn't peck the chick or anything, just doesn't call it to eat anymore and when she manages to escape, she doesn't care that the chick is desperately calling for her.
I have tried to put the chick with the other mom hen, but her chicks are a lot smaller and she chases the older chick away. Should I keep this hen with the chick until it's ready to join the flock? Should I let the mom hen back with the other chicken and will the baby chick eventually stop crying and calling her?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My mama hen started ignoring her two chicks at about 3 weeks, but they were all integrated with the flock by that time. The chicks continued to run after mom, cheeping,but she paid little attention to them. Nothing bad happened! A week later both chicks were perching on the roost with the big birds at bedtime and again, nothing bad happened! The Aunties just seemed to accept them as part of the family.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm not sure what to tell you to do now, but I think the best thing to do is leave mom and chick in with the flock from an early age so mom can integrate the chick. As it is now, it looks like you'll have to integrate the chick.

 

[Mania]

I'm not sure what to tell you to do now, but I think the best thing to do is leave mom and chick in with the flock from an early age so mom can integrate the chick. As it is now, it looks like you'll have to integrate the chick.

Their little enclosure is within the area where the rest of the flock lives, so they're aware of each other. The thing is, I am afraid the chicken will hurt the baby chick, because they pecked it when I let it out. The mom didn't try to protect it at all. The chick hatched on April 4th, but like I said, cries a lot when left alone.

 

[nuthatched]

She's weaning it, it's big enough to take care of itself

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Just keep an eye on it. An occasional peck will teach it manners but do it no harm. If it looks like bloody murder, separate it. Provide places where the chick can hide, you know, clutter. Things the chick can hide under or get behind.

 

[fluffycrow]

Most hens are quite different in their chicks rearing style. This one has decided that she has taught her chick everything that she deems necessary, and that the chick can care for itself. Besides, the chick is more so a juvenile now.
Another hen won’t accept it, and neither will the chick accept a new mother.

This is an unfortunate side effect of not integrating mum and chicks into the rest of the group quite early-on. I’d let mum join the rest, as she has expressed her desire to do so. I’d let the chick do the same. If you feel more comfortable letting it out a little later, you could wait until 6 weeks. IMHO, it will not change much about the group’s behaviour towards the chick.

A much better solution would be to start the introduction process for both single chick and broody mum 2 (and her batch) at the same time. That way, the youngest chicks will not have to face what the oldest one is going through right now (since mum will protect them), and the oldest will have some company. That will be especially helpful when mum 2 decides her job is done as well

 

[Growley Monster]

At 4 weeks I wouldn't be too worried. It will get hungry and thirsty and figure stuff out on its own. A peck or two is just part of socializing. Just try to provide places of refuge that the chick can run to, where a mean hen can't continuously peck it to death. At one or two weeks I would be very concerned but at 4 weeks it is less of a toddler and more of a big kid.