Won’t leave the coop

[Ckd3910]

I have 2 mama hens in the coop with their chicks. One mama with one chick and 1 mama with 3 chicks. it’s been 5 days and they won’t leave. The biggest issue is that the mama with 1 chick bullies the other mama and corners her. She got bloodied up today. I tried to take the bully hen out with her chick but she ended up going right back to the coop.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Most broody hens need separated especially when the chicks hatch. The hormones turn them into mama bears. The less dominant of the two and her brood most likely won’t ever leave the coop until the dominant broody is separated.

 

[GodLovesU]

Maybe the feel more secure in the coop?Maybe divide the coop into two parts, one for each hen.

 

[SueT]

Welcome to BYC! It does seem like they would want to go outside by now. I have a mama hen w 1 chick who first took it out at 3 days old. It is now 7 days and they spend all day every day outside with the rest of the flock.
What is the run like? What is the weather like? Are they with the rest of the flock? Is there food and water outside? Can you bribe them to come out? Be sure to update us on how it works out...

 

[Ckd3910]

Welcome to BYC! It does seem like they would want to go outside by now. I have a mama hen w 1 chick who first took it out at 3 days old. It is now 7 days and they spend all day every day outside with the rest of the flock.
What is the run like? What is the weather like? Are they with the rest of the flock? Is there food and water outside? Can you bribe them to come out? Be sure to update us

Most broody hens need separated especially when the chicks hatch. The hormones turn them into mama bears. The less dominant of the two and her brood most likely won’t ever leave the coop until the dominant broody is separated.

I’ve never had this before. Our last couple batches, the 2 mamas actually hung out together with all the babies. I thought the whole point in letting them hatch naturally is so that you don’t have to introduce new chicks to the flock. If I separate them, won’t it be difficult to re-introduce? How do you recommend separating them?

 

[Ckd3910]

Welcome to BYC! It does seem like they would want to go outside by now. I have a mama hen w 1 chick who first took it out at 3 days old. It is now 7 days and they spend all day every day outside with the rest of the flock.
What is the run like? What is the weather like? Are they with the rest of the flock? Is there food and water outside? Can you bribe them to come out? Be sure to update us on how it works out...

Thank you all! There is a coop with a fenced in run. But I keep the run open and they free range. The flock is mostly scattered. The weather is beautiful! Water and food both inside and outside coop. I tried to bribe, with some bread and it worked! But they were back in the coop within 10 minutes!

 

[Ckd3910]

Would it be a bad idea to rehome the dominant broody hen with one chick? My neighbor has a small flock without any young.

 

[SueT]

Would it be a bad idea to rehome the dominant broody hen with one chick? My neighbor has a small flock without any young.

If your neighbor wants them I think it might be good. Let us know how it goes!

 

[Ckd3910]

If your neighbor wants them I think it might be good. Let us know how it goes!

Ok, how should she introduce to her flock? Is it different than usual when the broody hen has a chick?

 

[GlicksChicks]

Ok, how should she introduce to her flock? Is it different than usual when the broody hen has a chick?

It should be about the same. Use a caged in area with openings small enough that the chick cannot slip out. Use the look but don't see method. The mother hen will most likely get very defensive because she does not know any of the chickens from that flock.
What I would recommend for you, if you like that hen, then just put her and her chick into a caged in area od your coop, with a dog kennel or something, and let her stay in there with food and water until you feel like the less dominant mother hen is more comfortable going around with her chicks and then try reintroducing.