Should I separate chick from parent?

[NorthEastGameBirds]

In my experience I have a better success rate leaving them with their mother

 

[JaeG]

She might. There was another chick that apparently died while hatching. I have some 3 week old thst I could put the new chick with. They shouldn't hurt her.

I often put newly hatched chicks in with older chicks, but they are generally bantams. So far we've had no problems.

I've currently got 3 newly hatched English Araucana chicks in with month old bantams and they've been fine. I had a broody hatch them but it's her first time and she ditches them as soon as there's food. Our birds free range so get fed at specific times of the day (because of all the wild sparrows which I refuse to feed) and she would come running out of the coop absolutely oblivious to the chicks she left behind peeping their heads off.

I have other birds I don't entirely trust not to hurt them without the protection of a grumpy mother, so they are safer in a brooder.

All you can do is your best and have a back-up plan (or 2) if things go pear shaped.

 

[Tiffy316]

You guys do know that when I say brooder, I mean an area meant for chicks, but no full grown chickens, right? It's not big enough for a full grown hen. It's just made for the babies. Anyway, the nesting box would probably be safest, if I Lasleave the chick with her. I can always put some hardware cloth or something in front of it to keep any horny visitors away.

 

[Tiffy316]

Anyway, I'm thinking about letting the mother raise it, even though I'm worried about it. She's a first time mother and the nesting boxes are at least 2 ft high. I don't want it to get hurt ot killed.

 

[3KillerBs]

Anyway, I'm thinking about letting the mother raise it, even though I'm worried about it. She's a first time mother and the nesting boxes are at least 2 ft high. I don't want it to get hurt ot killed.

Have you read this article yet?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rst-turkey-strut-to-weaning-the-chicks.76878/

 

[B_Chickle01]

The problem with day-olds through about 4 days old is they've got a Pollyanna type attitude, no clue that anything in the world will hurt them and will just stand there and be trampled, pecked etc.

I too have had chicks of the same age go after each other, happily just one time- when one of the brood developed coccidiosis and they all needed treating - they went from having the run of the yard to a much more confined space - and on the second day is when it happened. Once that first drop of blood is shed, however it happens - yep. Nobody died in our case, but the targeted cockerel at 3 weeks old had a hole in the head and was scalped. He recovered, but if I'd gotten home any later I think I would have found a body instead of an injured chick. Not to mention some of the awful things one sees in feed store chick bins!

Oh man!! Chickens can be so brutal! Mine was trampled shortly after bringing them home. U know how they will be all tired and stuff the first day from shipping stress. It happened so quickly too. I was so upset I couldn’t save her. I walked in on it and hurried up and scooped her up and tried Nutridrench and holding her close to keep her warm. It was too late though sadly. This year was my first ever experience with coccidiosis! It was scary i always read about it and thought what a night mare thank god I haven’t had to deal with that yet. They were bad too but no one was lethargic and on their sides so i think i caught it quick. We actually just ended treatment couple days ago. One of my crossbeaks passed she wasn’t doing too hot those past few days then that hit. I didn’t see any of my younger duccles that had blood in their poop though that was her flock so I was caught off guard. I still treated everyone but that was so hard I was terrified I was going to lose more.

 

[B_Chickle01]

Anyway, I'm thinking about letting the mother raise it, even though I'm worried about it. She's a first time mother and the nesting boxes are at least 2 ft high. I don't want it to get hurt ot killed.

It’s so much easier having the mom raise it! If anything just put mama and baby in a little closed off section inside where everyone can see them but not touch. For now anyways! That’s what I did and it really helped in making the re introduction smooth. Just keep close eye on everyone!

 

[Tiffy316]

It’s so much easier having the mom raise it! If anything just put mama and baby in a little closed off section inside where everyone can see them but not touch. For now anyways! That’s what I did and it really helped in making the re introduction smooth. Just keep close eye on everyone!

They're kinda on nesting shelves right now. I dont think anyone will bother her.

 

[Tiffy316]

I went ahead and put her in a large dog crate that I use as a segregation cage. She should be able to raise her babies peacefully. The only issue is that I released some of my juveniles early and I'm worried about how they'll adapt. I've got 3 silkie hens and a chicken with a limp among the juveniles that I released. Its still dark, so I hope that'll help. I'm worried that the silkie hens wont do well, since I have a few roosters and silkies tend to be submissive. My other chicken might get bullied bc of his leg, but I've been meaning to release them for a while, but waited bc I was worried about my disabled chicken and his submissive ladies.

 

[Tiffy316]

We've got 3 babies now. The mother, babies, and her eggs have all been moved to a segregation cage so they won't be disturbed. One of the babies has some black stripes on its butt, but the others are mostly white. It'll be interesting to see what they'll look like as they get older.