Mother and chicks still together after 3 months - problem?

[dmeredith]

I have a hyper-broody Orpington hen that has hatched two sets of eggs. After the first group reached 6 weeks, she separated herself from them in textbook fashion ('leave me alone' peckings, foraging on her own, etc). However, the second group of two pullets is now 3 months old and she is still "helping" them find food, roosting together, and the like. I have no problem with it, but it's causing some pecking order "challenges" in that all of the other adult hens beat up on the three of them. I am looking for advice.

Thanks.

 

[Judy]

Maybe doing something to shake up the pecking order would help. Maybe you could separate the lead bully or bullies for a day or two, or longer. I wouldn't separate the mama and chicks from the rest, or the chicks from the mama, unless I was going to make the separation permanent. If you can, you could try moving the whole flock for a week or so. We moved our whole flock into the garden for a month or two, to clean up the garden, and I noticed that it changed the group dynamics for the better.

 

[LeJeune1]

I agree that moving a 1 or 2 of the ring leaders for a few days could help to re-establish the order. Keep us posted.

 

[dmeredith]

Thanks for the replies. There's only one ringleader, who is a very assertive Easter Egger. I'll move her out of the run for a couple of days and see if that brings stasis back to the flock. Will keep you posted.

thanks,
DMM