When to separate mama and babies?

[crazychickenlady95]

Mama Silkie hatched out 7 (adopted ) baby chicks on June 21st. This is my first experience letting a broody hatch eggs. We will not be keeping the baby chicks as I hatched out these for a friend of ours. They are eager to get the babies! So my question is, would it be okay to separate babies from mom at this point? Will Mama Silkie get depressed? She's been such a good mom to her babies I just want to make sure it's okay to take them from her now. I don't mind telling our friends to wait a little longer on the chicks if it means keeping Mama happy. I'm torn!

 

[Spartan22]

Mama Silkie hatched out 7 (adopted ) baby chicks on June 21st. This is my first experience letting a broody hatch eggs. We will not be keeping the baby chicks as I hatched out these for a friend of ours. They are eager to get the babies! So my question is, would it be okay to separate babies from mom at this point? Will Mama Silkie get depressed? She's been such a good mom to her babies I just want to make sure it's okay to take them from her now. I don't mind telling our friends to wait a little longer on the chicks if it means keeping Mama happy. I'm torn!

If your not keeping the chicks, you could have taken them away as early as the 2nd day when they have started drinking and eating.

 

[AlleysChicks]

To me it’s cruel to take them after she worked so hard to hatch them. She will look for them and become depressed. I’d wait until they are bigger to give them to your friend.

 

[crazychickenlady95]

To me it’s cruel to take them after she worked so hard to hatch them. She will look for them and become depressed. I’d wait until they are bigger to give them to your friend.

Thank you! I thought the same thing so it was good to hear a similar opinion.