seperating mother from chick?

[Casey207908]

6 weeks ago my americana hatched a silke egg. As of lately when they are roaming around the mother goes in the coop and want to roost. She is also laying eggs again. My question is, at what point is it ok to put the mother and the chick in the coop with the flock (only two other chickens)? The flock gets along well with the baby chick (now 6 weeks old). My concern is if i put the mother and chick in the coop the mother will roost and the baby will be to cold sitting by itself. Is there a time frame when its ok if the mother isn't keeping the baby warm at night? or at what point is it ok to let the mother give herself some space from the chick?

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Now is a good time. My hens teach the chicks to roost at 4 weeks, it's the final step in their training program. Usually they try to snuggle under, sometimes successfully. But soon they are on their own. If she's laying again, she's done be a broody, the chick just doesn't know it yet.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Late last fall I put 5 week old chicks in my grow-out coop with no heat. Overnight lows were in the 40's. A few days later, we had an overnight low in the mid-20's. They had no heat. They were fine.

I've had broodies take chicks to roost at 2 weeks. They were not under the broody but were exposed. This was the middle of summer so it was pretty warm, but the night-time temperatres were way below the "recommended" minimum temperatures for 2 week old chicks. They were fine.

This summer I had chicks in my brooder in the coop. It was pretty hot during the day. I turned the day-time heat off in the brooder on the second day. I turned the night-time heat off at day 6. Yes, the night-time heat was off before they were a week old. They were fine.

How much heat they need depends on a few different things. I don't recommend turning the heat off 2 day old chicks during cooler parts of the year, but with experience you can learn these things by observing them.

But at 6 weeks, that silkie chick does not need any heat from Mama or anything else. I don't know your climate or conditions. It may or may not have needed some heat a couple of weeks ago, but it certainly does not need heat now.

 

[florida lee]

My broody was finished with her chicks at 4 weeks, she walked off and left them. they are doing just fine.

 

[Ms Ellen]

The silkie most likely will not roost anyway. They prefer to huddle on the floor.

 

[Casey207908]

ok great info. Thank you everyone. I appreciate it.