Taking eggs from hen

[southernsibe]

I have a hen on about 10 eggs. I got her from someone who had a dog that was trying to eat her chickens, and she isn't very tame. All the chicks that I have raised are very tame and love to be near us. How old should the chicks be before I take them from her so I can start handling them and getting them used to us?

 

[Krazy]

MY GUESS:
I don't think it is good to take the baby chicks from her cause probally wants to keep some chicks for her self. If you take it from her she won't want to sit on them anymore. When they grow up they can be tamed as well.


Keep feeding them and give them water everyday make sure they see you do it. Then they will know and they will start following you if they are hungry

I have my flock follow me everywhere even into the garage.

 

[silkiechicken]

Personally I would steal all but one of her chicks after they are about 3 days old. Taming older birds is soo much more time consuming.

 

[skeeter9]

Yep, I agree with Silkie. In my experience, if you let a hen raise the chicks, they are MUCH harder to tame than if you put them in a brooder and you become "momma". I would take them early.

Lori

 

[jessupfamily]

If you take them and raise them like you're the mama, they don't have as good instinct about being a mama themselves. But if you don't want them to sit when they're older it won't matter. If you are the main food source they will tame to you and the mama may also become more tame as well. That has been our experience.
Amy J.

 

[chickiepoo]

I agree with leaving them with mama. She will keep them away from you (and the other chickens) for a while, but you can eventually bring them closer. I think chicks need mama to teach them how to be chickens. She teaches them how to scratch, how to take a dust bath, 'pecking order', and how to 'talk chicken'.
When I first got our rooster he would come nowhere near us. Now he will come right up to the back door if he sees the treat container. I actually shoo him off sometimes.