Strange situation

[Noelani]

My neighbor had a feral chicken lead her 7 chicks into her old coop. They didn't want them but she couldn't chase the mom and her chicks away. The mom found a safe place and didn't want to give it up. She was afraid her husband was going to take matters into his own hands. So she asked if I would take them - knowing I have several coops and could house them. I did and they are doing well, except the mother - being feral - goes nuts when I enter the coop to feed and water. I can't do it any other way. I would love to keep them, but I am afraid the mom is always going to be very flighty and all of her chicks will be the same. Can I take the mom away and let her go into the forest where she came from? I would like her chicks to stay and eventually integrate them into my flock.

Right now, they follow her lead - as any baby follows their mother, but I can't have 8 flighty chickens, it gets my dogs excited and they just want to "Play" with the chickens - which never ends well for my chickens. I keep my chickens fenced away from my dogs, but if they are flighty enough they can sometimes get over the fence.

any advice?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos of her, the chicks and where you are keeping them?

Give her time to get used to you. Even when you are not bringing food, go sit near where you are keeping her and talk to her. With her having babies, she's going to be more flighty. Toss her some scratch and keep talking to her. Mom and babies may never be lap chickens, but with patience you can have them coming around for food and treats.

 

[DesertBird]

Agree! ^ I'm assuming part of her flightiness is being enhanced by her chicks being near. At the least, stay near them for the chicks' sake - they'll get more used to you and realize you're not a monster.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Mama may always be flighty, but the chicks have a decent chance at calming down if you're gentle at them and provide food. Go sit near them, quietly, with food, and eventually they'll start coming towards you.

Congrats on the free chickens! Pics?

 

[Kayakrose]

Hi, Congrats on your new chicks. I have been raising some Easter Egger chicks that I ordered from Tractor Supply. They are now 2 months old and very flighty. When I got them I just wanted 4 but had to order 10 so I thought I would sell the others on Craigs list. They never calmed down so I sold the others and now have my 4 that I am working with. We are working to intigrate them into the rest of the flock of 9 6- month old pullets. The big ones free range during the day and go into the chicken house at night. The new ones have their own cage but we moved them into a wire inclosure in the free range area during the day so they can get used to each other without the danger. You might want to get rid of the mother because when I had them all together they had a hard time calming down. Just my observation. Goodluck.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The adult may calm down when integrated into your flock eventually. All of my chickens are like her. I have a pair that sleep in a tree and I can't get closer than 20' from them .

For the time being, put food and water into the coop after dark for the next day.

 

[aart]

Only way to calm the mama is prolonged exposure....
....go sit in coop quietly for an hour several times a day.

Can I take the mom away and let her go into the forest where she came from? I would like her chicks to stay and eventually integrate them into my flock.

You'll need to provide heat for chicks.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, then it's always there!

 

[Noelani]

I want to thank you all for your helpful suggestions. I will try to sit with them more and see what happens. Also, thank you for the suggestion for adding my location. I don't worry about having to add heat to the coop, but it does get pretty chilly here during the winter.

 

[Dona Worry]

I would not take momma away from her babies, nor would I turn her loose to fend for herself. I would also put a great deal less pressure on her.
I have a feral broody with chicks and she is a right dragon. All handling and feeding was done at night until I integrated her into my bigger flock, with the exception of tossing her meal worms as a treat and once treating a wound (which was a death-defying experience, let me tell ya!).
Once she moved in with my flock, she settled down a LOT. She is still a dragon momma, she is not cuddly and never will be, but she follows the flock's lead. If they run to me when I call, so does Susan, and therefore, her babies.
Just give her time. Let her be as wild as she needs to be. Don't go in the fence with her, but let her see you feed your other chickens hihh-value treats, then calmly toss a few to her while talking in a calm tone. Integrate her into your flock super slowly, letting everyone see each other through a fence for weeks, then feeding treats to both groups simultaneously along the fence for a little while so they get used to shared space.

If you have a calm and happy flock, she will follow their lead and her chicks likewise.

 

[aart]

....nor would I turn her loose to fend for herself.

I would normally agree with this, but in Hawaii there are a plethora of feral chickens.
From what I've heard they are almost at nuisance proportions,
too bad she can't be 'spayed' before her 'release'.