When do chicks "wean"?

[babsh]

At what point will momma begin to ignore her chicks? I would like to sell them, but wanted to wait until momma silkie was 'done' with them. They are 4 weeks old and so far, they are all still very attached.

Barb

 

[Judy]

It varies a lot, but I think around 4 weeks is a good guesstimate for an average.

 

[babsh]

Quote:
Thanks. They are now 4.5 weeks old and it doesn't look like it will be soon at all, judging by the way she still forages for them, sits on them, etc. They barely fit under her anymore!

I hope it's soon, because I have someone that is patiently waiting to buy them.

 

[Lollipop]

The good news is that chicks can manage on their own almost from day one, excluding heat needs the first few weeks. Actually weening is up to whenever the hen gets tired of the chicks. In my experience, somewhere around 8 weeks is more like it. The rule of thumb is when the chick is feathered on it`s back, it`s old enough to deal with temps on it`s own........Pop

 

[babsh]

Quote:
Darn. There is no way the new owner will wait 4 more weeks. I might just have to take them from her before she/they are ready. I was hoping to lessen the separation trauma. They all get SO upset if they cannot see each other.

 

[dftkarin]

I have newly hatched chicks and I'm wondering if there is any harm to letting the chicks stay with the momma as long as she still seems attached to them? What if its months? If its okay with me to forgo the mom's egglaying - is there any harm to letting them stay together longer?

 

[Lucky Ducky]

I have found that it varies from chicken to chicken. I have found that if the hen has started to lay again then she's done with the chicks. I've had a hen finish with her babies at 2 weeks and others that want them at 2 months.

Most hens are fine after a bit if you remove their chicks. You've let her get them past any danger zone ( by her keeping them warm), if you have someone who wants them, sell them. I had 1 duck that could care less about her babies, so I had to take them away. The other duck was a great momma but when someone came to buy duck and they wanted 10, I sold all of the bad momma's babies and 4 of the good one's babies. She still had 6 left and after telling me off she settled down with her remaining ducklings. She has been fine with the change.

 

[magsrags]

My silkie stopped at near 4 weeks.

 

[dftkarin]

If I let them stay together for several months - can I still have them all living in the same coop with the other adult hens? Or do I need to seperate the mom and chicks out into a seperate living area and coop?

 

[mud21]

Maybe you could go on and sell most of them, and leave momma just a couple to keep her happy and occupied...