When to seperate hen from chick?

[Duckpond1245]

I have a hen who went broody a few weeks ago, she had two chicks hatch but unfortunately one passed away.
They are in a broody coop in the main coop at the moment and the chick is turning 4 weeks old on Wednesday. The other hens can see the chick and mother.

It's not possible for the chick to go back to the flock straight away because there's some ducks who will probably bully her, and it's also quite cold at the moment. Also I have a young bantam pullet that is in a separate coop at the moment and she's similar size to the chick so I'd like them to go together.

So when and how should a separate the mother from her chick

 

[LaurenRitz]

I have a hen who went broody a few weeks ago, she had two chicks hatch but unfortunately one passed away.
They are in a broody coop in the main coop at the moment and the chick is turning 4 weeks old on Wednesday. The other hens can see the chick and mother.

It's not possible for the chick to go back to the flock straight away because there's some ducks who will probably bully her, and it's also quite cold at the moment. Also I have a young bantam pullet that is in a separate coop at the moment and she's similar size to the chick so I'd like them to go together.

So when and how should a separate the mother from her chick

Best option is to let the Mom do it. She'll know when both she and the chick are ready, and she'll take care of it herself. She'll want to go back with the main flock, ignore the chick, and start pecking order games.

You can move the chick any time as long as it's fully feathered. Any histrionics will depend on the personality of the birds. Mom may pine inconsolably, go broody again, or look around for her baby and go about her business.

 

[DobieLover]

So when and how should a separate the mother from her chick

She makes that decision but the pair of them should have been with the flock this entire time. Broody hens protect their chicks and oftentimes, other flock members help with this task. I would release her and the chick and monitor to see how they do together.

Is the bantam pullet all by herself? If so, she will have the hardest time integrating but will possibly buddy up with the broody raised chick when the broody hen weans her.

 

[Altairsky]

I only kept my broody hen in a fenced corner of the coop for 4 days after the chick were done hatching. Then she let me know she wanted to get out and I let her. She free ranged the chicks, all of them survived. The dominant hen helped raising the chicks. Then when they were almost 3 months old the mother weaned the chicks but the dominant hen kept caring for them until I sold them. Everyone did fine.

 

[troyer]

Best option is to let the Mom do it. She'll know when both she and the chick are ready, and she'll take care of it herself. She'll want to go back with the main flock, ignore the chick, and start pecking order games.

You can move the chick any time as long as it's fully feathered. Any histrionics will depend on the personality of the birds. Mom may pine inconsolably, go broody again, or look around for her baby and go about her business.

 

[Duckpond1245]

Is the bantam pullet all by herself? If so, she will have the hardest time integrating but will possibly buddy up with the broody raised chick when the broody hen weans heher.

No the bantam pullet is with a young brahma who will have to leave her soon because its a roo. I only got the bantam pullet and roo a few days ago. The bantam is very young still and I'm afraid will get picked on too much if I let her our with the other flock now.

I usually would let the hen mother her chicks with the rest of the flock, but last time I had 3 chicks killed by I think a young roo. So I just wanted to be on the safe side this time.

 

[Duckpond1245]

Quick update: I let the chick and hen out with the flock about a week ago. They are doing great. I also got the bantam pullet some buddies. I'll probably start a seperate bantam flock