When does mama leave her growing chicks

[HenOnAJuneBug]

All mine left at about 6 weeks. Then it's - "cya! Don't know who your are! Outta my face! Mean it!"

 

[sawilliams]

So i took this pic last night. The chick are about 9 weeks now if i counted right. That 1, make poor mama look so uncomfortable

 

[chickens really]

Cute......

 

[Morrigan]

I had one that didn't wean them until they were over 10 weeks old. She still "cuddled" with them in the nest box at night, even though they all barely fit in there. She did not go broody until her 3rd year, and then died the following year. I like to think that she knew this was her one and only chance at motherhood and she made the most of it.

 

[shawthorne44]

that photo makes me a little happy teary. She is trying so hard to cuddle without squashing them.

 

[MageofMist]

My silkie hen spent 2 months caring for her babies, having started laying eggs again around a month after the chicks hatched, and then trying to go broody again... Silkies are a very motherly breed though.

She did start 'clinging' to her chicks less after a month passed, but still let them snuggle under her and called them to food. After the second month though, she stopped calling when she had food and just gobbled the food the moment she had it and on the third now and she is treating them just like the others in the flock as the lead hen... Pecking at them and chasing them away from her sunflower seeds in the scratch when outside. Once all the sunflower seeds are gone, the rest of the scratch is free for the other hens and roos.

Hen-Hen, I know your babies are growing up and getting rowdy, and you want to care for younger chicks again... But we don't have the room for more adorable fluffballs!

 

[Morrigan]

that photo makes me a little happy teary. She is trying so hard to cuddle without squashing them.

It makes me a little teary too. She was such a wonderful mother! I miss that hen.

 

[sawilliams]

Mama moved last night up to the roosts for the first time, chicks sup sleeping in the nest. Glad to see her getting back to routines