What should I do. Momma & babies

[tinakevin]

My baby chicks r 6 1/2 weeks old it seems like momma hen is done raising them. She has already started laying again and seems to leave them to them selves unless there is danger then she protects them she also wants to go up to the roost with her sisters so I put her back with her sisters and I put the babies in their coop but the babies were chirping and looking for momma so I went back and got her and put her back with the babies. Was this the right thing to do or should I just let momma go back to her sisters.

 

[azygous]

Six weeks is old enough for your chicks to be weaned from their broody. And the hen is obviously no longer broody, so she is inclined to resume her own life. I would let her do that. The babies will quickly adjust. Just ignore the complaining.

 

[Pork Pie]

If I am translating your post correctly, you have you a separate coop for the chicks and momma? If you have been letting momma and the chicks mix with the rest of the flock during the day time already, then I'd suggest putting the chicks in the main coop on an evening (or just letting them follow momma) - they will fly up to the roost to sleep with mum.

CT

 

[lazy gardener]

Is your coop big enough to accommodate the babies now? And when they are full grown? Chickens should have 4 sq. ft./bird in the coop, and 10 - 12" of perch space/ bird. If you don't have that much room, you may want to consider getting rid of some birds.

 

[Hybridchucks]

If I am translating your post correctly, you have you a separate coop for the chicks and momma? If you have been letting momma and the chicks mix with the rest of the flock during the day time already, then I'd suggest putting the chicks in the main coop on an evening (or just letting them follow momma) - they will fly up to the roost to sleep with mum.

CT

I agree!

 

[Jenna14Chicken]

Can you just make room if you don't have it to put the mom and her chicks with the sisters in that coop? It would be easier that way I would think, just put them in a coop all together. So then mama will be with her sisters and babies and be happy.

 

[tinakevin]

Yes we built a 16x8 coop. So I put momma and babies in there but because I don't have the best built yet ( hubby is doing that this weekend) I didn't transfer the other to it yet. I also have 6 other 5 month olds that I have to integrate with them. So basically I have 2 separate coops right now and I'm hoping to get them all in the same coop but with a wired wall between the new ones and the older ones. I just didn't want to put the babies in the old coop if I didn't have to. But thanks to your all advise I decided to put momma in with her sisters at night and then put the babies in the new coop where they r used to sleeping and until Saturday I will just put the babies in the run with momma during the day. Thank u all so much

 

[Jenna14Chicken]

Sounds good, Good luck!

 

[RedSky1]

Question when do you put babies with rest of flock?

 

[lazy gardener]

Preferably as soon as they are off heat, if the coop is big enough and they have options to get away from any tormentors. Check out Azygous panic room, and there is a weekly ? deailing specifically with that ?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1126547/topic-of-the-week-integrating-chicks-into-an-adult-flock