Taking away 5 wk old chicks from Mama

[CK Chickadilly]

I actually put mama & her chicks in a coop & then I let them out during the day. There are so many of them, & she was having such a fit without them when I took her out, I felt bad so I let her keep them & if they are wild, so be it! I have my silkie/cochins that are super friendly

 

[cmom]

I would take them away from mom and get rid of the Roo's. If I have any Roo's in my new batch I'm having southern fried chicken.

 

[cajunlizz]

them chicks are old enough NOT to have the mama with them anymore .

The mama needs to get back into her routine of laying . 5 or 6 week old chicks NEED to learn to fend for themselves . I have babies that are a week old that are in a cage by themselves . I put the hen back with the main flock when they were 2 days old . THEY ARE FINE.

I also have babies that are 6 weeks old and since they are in a covered "Predator proof " run , they have tripled in size .

She will put up a fit for maybe a day or more , BUT she needs to wean these chicks from her . NOT like she would be nursing babies .

 

[CK Chickadilly]

I will let mama out of the coop in the morning

& should I leave the babies in the coop a few days so she can adjust to no babies again?

Thanks guys!

 

[cajunlizz]

How many in the total flock ?

If you turn them ALL loose they will do what chickens do best . they play with one another , they scratch , they eat , they dust Trust me , they will NOT huffer around the moma .

I hate to say it this way , I think its YOU that needs to CUT the apron strings . The babies should of been away from the mama by a week old UNLESS its VERY VERY COLD , then I would of left mama for 3 weeks . BUT , never this long .

 

[CK Chickadilly]

See I never knew this, other people were telling me that they were to young! I would gladly like to get them off of her! She needs to get back to her life & they have theirs now!
Thanks!

 

[Frizzledhen]

You can take baby chicks away from the ma hen at any time, day old, month old or just leave them with ma until she tells them to get a life. It all depends on what YOU want to do. The younger they are the more you have to provide, like heat.

All of us who hatch chicks have the dilema as to what to do with extra little boys. If you can't sell them, give them away, don't want to take them to auction for fear of who may be buying them, you always have the option of culling them yourself. At least you will know they had a humane end.