Question about chicks

Ferronsgranny · 07-10-2008, 07:39 PM

One of my hens had 4 chicks the 1st week of June. She has started back laying eggs. Do I need to put up the babies now or will she continue to care for them?

I do know that the hen and the daddy rooster helps hunt and scratch food for them still. She still protects them except when she goes to lay her egg. I have a bunch of roosters and ducks that will chase them if they come out from where she left them.

Need some help on what to do.

**Range** · 07-11-2008, 09:24 AM

I honestly don't know. I know that I put 8 week old chicks in with an established flock and they pecked them to death. So...I would go ahead and let mama hen decide when they should join the flock.

**gbarmranch** · 07-11-2008, 09:28 AM

We had free range chickens for a long time.. I don't remember them roosting that soon again.. maybe collect those eggs so she will care for the chicks..

yellowhorsesinc · 07-11-2008, 07:46 PM

I would collect the eggs and eat them, but the chicks should be fine while mom is laying another egg. I would give them another month before I allowed mom to set again.

fishing_trex · 07-14-2008, 09:05 AM

Hens are typically "broody" while hey are raising their chicks, and generally won't start to set on another clutch until their chicks become independent -- but they can and do start to lay eggs again. She should continue to care for the chicks until they are "of age".

Ferronsgranny · 07-14-2008, 11:04 AM

Momma hen has "weaned" her babies. They are now on their own and I can't catch them.

farmergal · 07-16-2008, 08:58 AM

I've had this happen before. I think one of the reasons might be because it was a small clutch, don't really know for sure.

She'll continue to care for them while she is laying but once she has a nest full she'll go back to brooding her new clutch and abandon them if she hasn't already done so. Does she still roost with her chicks at night? They are old enough to be independent. Meaning they can find food and keep warm on their own but they are not old enough to fend off predators such as your cats.

If you can catch them I'd put them up for a few more weeks until they have more size to them. Either that or collect the eggs. Your rooster showing interest in them is a good sign that he has accepted them as part of his flock but he's not a protector like the hen. It really depends on who or what is after the chicks. Every rooster is different. I know mine says each bird to himself and runs when it's a cat but should another rooster come along.....

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07-10-2008, 07:39 PM
Ferronsgranny Started Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Big Creek, MS Posts: 2,050	Question about chicks One of my hens had 4 chicks the 1st week of June. She has started back laying eggs. Do I need to put up the babies now or will she continue to care for them? I do know that the hen and the daddy rooster helps hunt and scratch food for them still. She still protects them except when she goes to lay her egg. I have a bunch of roosters and ducks that will chase them if they come out from where she left them. Need some help on what to do. __________________ Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

07-11-2008, 09:24 AM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,751	I honestly don't know. I know that I put 8 week old chicks in with an established flock and they pecked them to death. So...I would go ahead and let mama hen decide when they should join the flock. __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

07-11-2008, 09:28 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,256	We had free range chickens for a long time.. I don't remember them roosting that soon again.. maybe collect those eggs so she will care for the chicks.. __________________ Quality Foundation Quarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles. ~Author Unknown

07-11-2008, 07:46 PM
yellowhorsesinc Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Roy WA Posts: 558	I would collect the eggs and eat them, but the chicks should be fine while mom is laying another egg. I would give them another month before I allowed mom to set again.

07-14-2008, 09:05 AM
fishing_trex Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,459	Hens are typically "broody" while hey are raising their chicks, and generally won't start to set on another clutch until their chicks become independent -- but they can and do start to lay eggs again. She should continue to care for the chicks until they are "of age". __________________ -- There are two ways to slide easily through life -- to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways will save you from thinking.

07-14-2008, 11:04 AM
Ferronsgranny Started Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Big Creek, MS Posts: 2,050	Momma hen has "weaned" her babies. They are now on their own and I can't catch them. __________________ Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

07-16-2008, 08:58 AM
farmergal Seasoned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,818	I've had this happen before. I think one of the reasons might be because it was a small clutch, don't really know for sure. She'll continue to care for them while she is laying but once she has a nest full she'll go back to brooding her new clutch and abandon them if she hasn't already done so. Does she still roost with her chicks at night? They are old enough to be independent. Meaning they can find food and keep warm on their own but they are not old enough to fend off predators such as your cats. If you can catch them I'd put them up for a few more weeks until they have more size to them. Either that or collect the eggs. Your rooster showing interest in them is a good sign that he has accepted them as part of his flock but he's not a protector like the hen. It really depends on who or what is after the chicks. Every rooster is different. I know mine says each bird to himself and runs when it's a cat but should another rooster come along..... __________________