My mother hens are leaving the babies behind

[kanovsky1]

I was wondering if anyone would be able to tell me if it is normal for my free range chickens to leave babies that are only two weeks old.

 

[rosemarythyme]

2 weeks is a bit early to start weaning, mostly because the chicks still need heat at that age.

 

[nuthatched]

That's about the age the chicks get more independent, that's what they do.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Some hens also just aren't mother material. I have a pair of hens that consistently lose chicks because they don't pay attention to them

 

[Taylor39]

I have a silki mama who is free range, she panicks if her babies aren't near her (she only has 4) but its also winter here so they need her more for warmth right now. She has been an extremely attentive mother, but I also have heard thats part of the breed. This is the first time one of our girls has hatched so she's all I can go by.

 

[Yardmom]

The older the chicks get the less they need mom's heat and will wander farther and farther. It is usually closer to 6 weeks when the hen stops keeping a close watch on them. Some hens are better than others at keeping watch.