What was the longest your hen raised her chicks?

[serenityNH]

Our hen is still raising her chicks and they are 13 weeks old! In the past she only raised her chicks for 6 weeks or so. I am not sure why she has decided to hang onto these babies for so long? They are almost the same size as her but she still finds food for them and covers them when they are roosting.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

My Summer is at 11 weeks with the 3 Silkie chicks (I took away the LF chicks). She still tells them where the yummy food is and snuggles with them at night. She is less protective, but then again the only creature she was protecting them from was the only other adult bird in the coop. Big bad *terrified* banty Cochin.

 

[LeJeune1]

1 Dutch Bantam went 16 weeks with her solo hatch. Current Dutch hen is at 8 weeks with her 3 chicks.

 

[HEChicken]

My BSL was a mature hen when she first went broody and she kept her chicks with her for 15 weeks.

 

[what did I do]

Good question. I have a hen I hope will care for her chicks through most of the winter. If it is cold will a hen care for her chicks longer?

 

[Kanga77510]

My Chip goes about 4-5 weeks. She starts laying pretty quickly after hatching and then she's done.