"Weaning" baby chicks

[ChickenLady♡]

My chicks are almost 10 weeks old and neither they nor mama look like they are ready to go their own ways. Mama still takes them all to bed in a tiny temporary brooder even though they've all investigated the normal coop and rests.

This is mama's first hatch - I'm guessing she'll eventually loosen the apron strings but my question is: does an over zealous mama or a longer time with the mama hen make the babies personalities any different? Are they more confident, more friendly or any more likely to go broody themselves?

 

[Mvan42]

She should be leaving them on their own soon. My broody left hers around 8 weeks, they just sort of went their own way. It probably varies with each breed on when they wean their chicks.

 

[21hens-incharge]

From my experience an "over involved" mom has not affected the chicks long term.

I have a mom that will still take food to her very much grown children when they don't feel good. Seriously she has been feeding a bird she raised 3 years ago since that one is not well.

She did not wean her first batch of kids....ever.... They left her when they started laying.
None of the chicks she has raised have gone broody.

 

[aart]

10 weeks is pretty long on average, but not unprecedented.
I'd close off the brooder to encourage them to roost with the flock,
and don't let them sleep in the coop nests.

 

[SueT]

Wow, 10 weeks. Well the longer the better for their education in the ways of the world, especially if they free range.
My broody decided abruptly at 6 weeks that was enough for her 3 youngsters. For a week she acted like she couldn't stand the sight of them and attacked them for coming near. She'd even chase them out of the coop at roosting time! Then she settled down, and now they are accepted as fellow flocksters.
Broody is a bantam, and chicks are large breed, so they were about her size by then. Maybe that was part of it.
Here they are at 5 weeks, blissfully unaware that their status as spoiled royalty was about to end:

 

[centrarchid]

I have had hens late in season stay with broods through 10 weeks and sometimes longer. The young do not appear different as adults when compared to others of approximately same hatch date. Hatch date likely more important.