When will I know????

[nanawendy]

...when to separate the Mama from the chicks. She is spending a lot of time @ the door of her old coop-run. The chicks ( Earl and Pearl) are 6 week old totally feathered out BR's. They live in the nursery- back yard since hatching, visiting the big girls and teens through the fence. Our yards are set up kind of like a pie... back yard being 50%- teens 15 % and the big girls 35%. For the first time today I let mama Olivia back into the big girl run for a few minuets, and she established her place pretty fast. But then the babies were getting nervous( pacing back and forth) so I put mama back into the back yard.
Input???

 

[Ms.FuzzyButts]

It has been my experience, that the hen will "ween" them on her own. When it's time, she will run them off by pecking or scolding them. Again, just my own experiences with my flock. Hope it helps!

 

[nanawendy]

That sounds right. She is getting further away from them, then they all come together. It is so interesting to watch