Poll - How long do your broodies care for their chicks?

[PioneerChicks]

I'm interested in how long a broody hen cares for her chicks! When do they "push them out of the nest?" For my broodies, it happens abruptly. Do your hens slowly wean their chicks or just peck them away one day? Please vote on the poll and reply with your comments!

 

[LizzzyJo]

Abruptly - or as we call it - she Harry and the Henderson-ed them.

 

[LateBirdFarms]

My broody experience is pretty limited, but with the two bodies I've had, they both up and decided they were done being mothers one day. One came back to the nest to sleep with her chicks for two or three nights after but the chicks might as well have been strangers when it came to the feeding bowls and pecking order!

 

[Bigtom Turkey]

Mine usially start 'weaning' them at 5 weeks, and are done with them at about 6 - 7 weeks.

 

[50-45-1]

It differs with each hen.
I have had one abandon chicks at one week. (Bad mom, never let her brood again)
And at the other end of the spectrum I had one hen brood a batch of guineas keets and at 3 months, she ran after them clucking and they abandoned her!

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Mine continue until the chicks are taught to perch on the roost at night. They still try to get under the hen on the perch (but they are way too big) and Mom starts to nudge and peck until they leave her alone. Many a chick has been pushed off the roost by Mom, but they are really pullets at that point.

 

[Pollito Pelon]

Almost 3 months and she isn't leaving them her past brood lasted 5 weeks but she left them one night and came back and she still going. Her other chicks died unfortunately but she still has these 2.

 

[Pollito Pelon]

I had one hen leave them at 4 weeks

 

[PioneerChicks]

Almost 3 months and she isn't leaving them her past brood lasted 5 weeks but she left them one night and came back and she still going. Her other chicks died unfortunately but she still has these 2.

So sweet! Those are some pampered chicks!

 

[Pollito Pelon]

I'm giving the other hen a second chance and see how well she does with 12 eggs
Hopefully they all hatch the last egg was one day late
she stopped calling the chicks at 3 weeks.
my black sex link from the picture posted she is still calls them and shows them the food and she isn't letting the rooster mount her. She is holding unto her chicks.