Momma "weening" babies???

[leah_c]

We had our first natural hatch the beginning of June. She hatched out 6 and we have ended up with 4. My question is this... will a mother hen leave her chicks? She doesn't want to have anything to do with them now. Will even pick on them as if to put them in their pecking order.

 

[Cotton42]

When the chicks are about 6 weeks old or so she will stop being so motherly to them and go back to laying. They are old enough to fend for themselves by that age.

 

[leah_c]

Thanks!!! Have had chickens for about 2-3 years now and this was our first hatch so haven't dealt with this before. Guess you learn something new every day!

 

[galanie]

Yes. The wean them by driving them away. Leaves the little guys kind of confused and upset but they get over it and get on with their chicken lives. Being a chicken isn't always fun.