Mom starting to reject babies, help please!

[Hessk]

I hatched some chicks with a broody hen and she was the best mom until today. The chicks will be a month old on Monday and I noticed that she’s starting to get really annoyed with them. Whenever they get close to her she pecks them and they run off chirping. I took her out of the outdoor brooder so she could get a break but I’m worried about tonight. I don’t own a heat lamp since this is my first hatch and the mama did all the work. I live in southern Georgia so it is hot! However, it does get down to about 68f during the night. You think they’ll be okay or should I put mom back in there before bed?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She sounds like she's weaning them. They should be okay at those temperatures.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Most hens will start weaning the chicks between 4-6 weeks. There are some broodies that will go longer, but as long as the chicks are feathered out and it is fairly warm it won't be bad for them to be weaned at a month.

 

[Ebony Rose]

She sounds like she's weaning them. They should be okay at those temperatures.

x2, sounds like she's weening to me too. She may still allow them under her at night on the roost, or she may not. I once had a hen that always weened early, and their daddy would keep them warm at night. Heartwarming to see

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

x2, sounds like she's weening to me too. She may still allow them under her at night on the roost, or she may not. I once had a hen that always weened early, and their daddy would keep them warm at night. Heartwarming to see

I've seen that too. Good roosters are an asset to the flock.

 

[Hessk]

I’ve never heard about chicken weening before. Don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I went back out there and the mom was trying to get back into the brooder so she must just be teaching them how to grow up (cry face) lol. Thanks everyone!

 

[Redhead Rae]

I’ve never heard about chicken weening before. Don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I went back out there and the mom was trying to get back into the brooder so she must just be teaching them how to grow up (cry face) lol. Thanks everyone!

She probably wants to take them back to the flock. It is better to let her do this while she is still broody so she has the instincts to flog any other flock member that dares to look askance at her babies.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I’ve never heard about chicken weening before. Don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I went back out there and the mom was trying to get back into the brooder so she must just be teaching them how to grow up (cry face) lol. Thanks everyone!

She probably wants to take them back to the flock. It is better to let her do this while she is still broody so she has the instincts to flog any other flock member that dares to look askance at her babies.

Yes, let them chicks go.

 

[Ohiohomesteader33]

I hatched some chicks with a broody hen and she was the best mom until today. The chicks will be a month old on Monday and I noticed that she’s starting to get really annoyed with them. Whenever they get close to her she pecks them and they run off chirping. I took her out of the outdoor brooder so she could get a break but I’m worried about tonight. I don’t own a heat lamp since this is my first hatch and the mama did all the work. I live in southern Georgia so it is hot! However, it does get down to about 68f during the night. You think they’ll be okay or should I put mom back in there before bed?

The chicks should be fine especially with the current temperature also it can be very stressful for mother hens to raise babies