When will she give them up?

[ausash]

My chicks are now almost 6 weeks old and momma hen is just not giving up on any of them and treating them like they are days old. When will she go back to being just another hen? My last broody gave up on hers when they were just a few weeks old but this hen (a buff orppington cross) is just not giving up. I don't mind this behavior as they have free reign of the whole run since the fox got all of my adults but her but I was just wondering what was going on. (yes I have since turned my run into fort knox and that pesky fox has not gotten in since)

 

[eggchel]

I had a buff orp that took care of her chicks until they were about half her size, LOL, and then one day she just chased them off every time they came near her. She was done.


chel