I had a broody inside with 2 bitties because mama was not able to defend her babies from the other hen. Now they are 4 + weeks old & mostly feathered. Today I penned the babies separately inside the the tractor where the hens could see them, but not get at them. I think it was way to stressfull for the mama who was always at the bottom of the pecking order. I let them out to free range together. She lets her "son" eat with her, but attacks her other little one if it comes anywhere near. It seems to be quite a bit more than a light peck, vicious (but not blood).
Tonight I put the 2 hens together in the tractor and the babies are inside with a light. I don't know what to do. I was going to put all of them together in the tractor, with a roosting box that the babies can hide in. Now that mama is attacking her little one, I don't think that's such a good idea.
They are all bantams. The tractor is 4' X 6' run area, with a 2' X 4' upstairs house. The babies were in a 3' X 3' cage in the run (leaving just 15 square feet of run for the hens). What shold I do?
Tonight I put the 2 hens together in the tractor and the babies are inside with a light. I don't know what to do. I was going to put all of them together in the tractor, with a roosting box that the babies can hide in. Now that mama is attacking her little one, I don't think that's such a good idea.
They are all bantams. The tractor is 4' X 6' run area, with a 2' X 4' upstairs house. The babies were in a 3' X 3' cage in the run (leaving just 15 square feet of run for the hens). What shold I do?
