Protective? Or possessive?

[LaurenRitz]

Not at all sure what this new behavior means. The three JGxRIR boys seem to be conspiring to keep the chicks in the coop. Not under their heater for the most part, and not away from the food and water, but in the coop.

This morning one of the babies got past them (flew over their heads) and they all combined to get her back in the coop. They were foraging at the entrance. I had wondered why the chicks weren't out foraging and now I have the answer.

Not sure what to do about it, though, or if anything needs to be done.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I can’t help directly, but I’ll ask some questions in case it helps the next person to reply give you a good answer:

How old are the boys in question?
How old are the chicks?
Do the chicks have a broody looking after them or are you raising them yourself?

 

[LaurenRitz]

Boys are almost 9 weeks, the chicks nearly 5. Both "hatched" on a Tuesday.

No broody with this group. None of my girls have gone broody since November.