Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Grandmas Coop]

That's a weird problem if they have plenty of protein.

Ive never had issues with a hen past the first couple days. I also never let them have chicks again if I had issues. I always have a broody silkie or six so I can just take the babies and give them to a good mom. I've only had issues with some large fowl breeds or EEs with only a little silkie blood.

well, it is odd, cuz she was such a great broody hen and mom, I'll keep watching her,, maybe she is pushing them away now that they are almost 5 weeks

 

[ValerieJ]

My mama hens never push the chicks away. They just grow up and wander off on their own. This is a long shot, because I'm not sure hens do this sort of thing, but have you checked the chicks for mites? Feather eating is usually a lack of protein, I hear. Have not had that problem here. But I think you said they get plenty of protein, so it is very strange indeed.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had a funny thing happen with a ma hen. She hatched out a couple chicks. She was a good mom for 2 weeks then decided she wanted to sit on eggs again. It was summer so the chicks didn't get too cold, but they still wanted moms. A friend gave us some old hens who had never been mothers. The took over the mothering of the chicks, each taking one chick.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

My mama hens never push the chicks away. They just grow up and wander off on their own. This is a long shot, because I'm not sure hens do this sort of thing, but have you checked the chicks for mites? Feather eating is usually a lack of protein, I hear. Have not had that problem here. But I think you said they get plenty of protein, so it is very strange indeed.

I am going to cook her an egg,, in fact I'll make 3, one for each of my mother hens.
the layer pellets are 17% the chick starter is 18%

 

[Grandmas Coop]

I am going to cook her an egg,, in fact I'll make 3, one for each of my mother hens.
the layer pellets are 17% the chick starter is 18%

well that didnt work, none of the 3 hens would eat the cooked egg

 

[Grandmas Coop]

I did a search--it seams a mother hen can ween her chicks as early as 2 to 3 week, but typical is 4 weeks - there is a lot of chirping/ squealing, pecking, and the mother often will run them off; ignores them at bed time---

 

[ValerieJ]

well that didnt work, none of the 3 hens would eat the cooked egg

I'm so surprised! did you boil the egg and cut it up into small pieces?

 

[ValerieJ]

I did a search--it seams a mother hen can ween her chicks as early as 2 to 3 week, but typical is 4 weeks - there is a lot of chirping/ squealing, pecking, and the mother often will run them off; ignores them at bed time---

That's probably it then. My hens have not done that, but I suppose hens differ from one another. I have some leghorns and read that I should not let them get broody or be moms because they are not good at it. They often leave the nest during the last days and if they do have chicks they abandon them almost immediately. So I have never let them even try, not that they have tried. But my Buff Orpingtons and Australorps are good moms and good broodies.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

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[Smokerbill]

you could save some of the seed from one of the squashes

Unfortunately, no, I don't think so. It's a hybrid squash so there's no telling what the saved seeds would produce.