Separate mama from her babies or not?

[Maz154]

I currently have two foster mamas. I don’t (yet) have a cockerel and when they went broody, I found them impossible to “break” - so I went and bought them newly hatched baby chicks. Both mamas are Araucanas. Great layers - until they go broody. Then theyre just hopeless. Anyway, Mama 1 is doing a great job raising two little Perkins. They are now 8 weeks old and fully formed miniature Pekin bantams. Look to be female too. They still sleep under/next to her at night. Should I separate them? To encourage her to lay again. Mama 2 is only on her 4th week with her babies, so we have a while to go yet. They are Orpington’s. I think one male and one female by the look of them.

 

[cherrynberry]

If you separate them, the hen might not protect them again and it may cause some problems. It's better if the chicks have a hen protecting them from the rest of the flock. I would leave them be

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Leave them be. Mama will wean them herself when she's finished raising then