Separating mother hen and chicks

[LightningMcChicken]

My Pekin mother hen that has two three week old chicks has recently gotten fowl pox and I've had to separate her and the chicks so they don't get it. They're in the same room inside but in separate cages.

Will the mother still look after them in a couple weeks after they're allowed together again?

 

[centrarchid]

You will break the bond if separated for more than a couple days. You may be able to stretch that by keeping the pens where the birds can touch, see and hear which make biosecurity irrelevant. I would treat broody and chicks as a unit. Or simply separate with no expectations of relationship after treatment period is done.

 

[LightningMcChicken]

You will break the bond if separated for more than a couple days. You may be able to stretch that by keeping the pens where the birds can touch, see and hear which make biosecurity irrelevant. I would treat broody and chicks as a unit. Or simply separate with no expectations of relationship after treatment period is done.

Ok thanks.that will be very sad for them I think that's probably worth it since if the chicks stay with her and get fowl pox it could be more deadly.

 

[centrarchid]

They are old enough to handle separation without trouble.

 

[LightningMcChicken]

They are old enough to handle separation without trouble.

Last year was the last broody mother we had and a similar thing happened. But unfortunately she had botulism and died rapidly. The chicks did separate ok.
I think we've been very unlucky so far with broody mother's.