Why did my hen stop caring for her chicks in the evening?

[AmeraucanaHank]

My Bielefeiler hen is a year old and hatched 10 baby chicks one week ago. For the first week she cared for the chicks well but the past 2 nights, she has started roosting on top of the cage instead of staying with her chicks. I have to physically pull her off the roof and put her in the cage with her chicks for the night. Does anyone know why she is doing this? Any suggestions/help? Thank you!

 

[nuthatched]

Some chickens make better mom's, you might have to put a low roost bar for her and her chicks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

She might be trying to teach them to roost already, though it's probably a wee bit early. You could make a low practice roost for her and the chicks and see if the chicks will join her on it.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

Thanks! I think I will try that!

 

[janiedoe]

I have one that starts trying to train her chicks early, usually at 2 to 3 weeks.
I'd suggest checking for signs of rodents or snakes. I had one hen do something similar a few years back. That evening I heard my roosters crowing and the hens chattering, I made it outside in time to kill a large rat snake before it could get to her chicks, but it was a very close call.
I keep my run doors open during the day, so that they can range. I have a great cat now. She never bothers the chicks, but she keeps the snake population down.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

i put up roosts and the chicks just started using it but the mother hen will not use it. Why!?!

 

[rosemarythyme]

i put up roosts and the chicks just started using it but the mother hen will not use it. Why!?!

Was she roosting before? Is she roosting somewhere else, or just sitting on the floor?