Removing Mama Hen..

[Davidisinaband]

Okay, so I let my broody hen hatch out a few chicks. They range from 4-5 weeks old and low temps are in the 50s. I've had them separated inside the coop in a special brooding run I built over the far end nest box. The mama's been pacing all day long for a few days now so I decided to see if she would come out. I lowered a trap door and separated them with the chicks in the nest box and her in the run with the door open. Well.. She freaked.. They freaked.. She eventually came out on her own, but only to see if she could get to them from outside.. About that time, the 2" square holes 10" off the ground that I said "no worries" about when fitting the run on started spitting out chicks.. on both sides... So there I am.. Chicks freaked and running amok, mama hen freaked, rooster freaked, other hens freaked, and I'll admit.. I was starting to freak out too..

While the rooster played sheep herder with the mama hen and preoccupied her with his dancing skills, I grabbed all the babies and put them back in the run. I went to put everything back up and let them sort everything out amongst the adults only to return to a three way fight and one of my sexlinks trying to save the mama hen by shielding her in the corner. So I break out the penalty box and place the offending hen in there sat back and watched. A little blood, lots of feathers. Perhaps a bit more aggressive than normal but nonetheless it was just one offending hen that was the problem. The only thing is, mama wouldn't do anything but try to get back in with the babies. So I broke down and figured I'll give her a few more weeks with them.

That was last night about dark. My question is will this get easier in a week or two, or is this more than likely going to be an issue whether I give them more time or not? I can handle the bully hen, but I just don't want the mama hen to sit there and pace underneath the run for two days straight stressed out and making the babies stressed out as well..

 

[Judy]

I've always let my broodies raise their chicks in with the flock. Thing is, they're still pretty small when mama decides not to be a mama any more; my last one quit at 4 weeks. But the others are used to the chicks by then and ignore them, or that's what has happened here. I believe I'd try integrating some more, maybe outdoors, whatever you can manage. Otherwise you may be stuck with keeping the chicks separate til they're full grown.

My method is not entirely safe, I realize, and maybe I've just been very lucky. Not really recommending it, just sayin'....

 

[Davidisinaband]

Quote:
Well, that was the plan actually.. To keep them separate until they're fully grown except for maybe one. She only hatched out 3 and as luck has it, two are roos so they're going up on CL in a few months. I may introduce the one hen and keep her, but that still leaves two others separated and the problem still exists with her trying to get to them. From what you're saying though, it will get easier, I just have to let her lose more interest in them first.