Mama hen restless

[Emrosenagel]

Hello!

I have a mother hen that is taking care of 3 chicks. They hatched 2 weeks ago today, and she’s been with them in a pen ever since. The first week, she was content with sitting with them; but as of the past week, she’s itching to get out. I would put her out, but as soon as she’s away from them she freaks out. It’s like she doesn’t want to be cooped up but doesn’t want to be away from them! I can’t let them out with her unattended, and I don’t have the time to watch them all day. What should I do? Just let her be restless or let her lose her mind without them?

 

[sourland]

Any possibility of providing a larger pen?

 

[Emrosenagel]

Any possibility of providing a larger pen?

I could do that. They are getting pretty big! It’s just she wants to go out and dust bath and scratch and forage.

 

[sourland]

I could do that. They are getting pretty big! It’s just she wants to go out and dust bath and scratch and forage.

Perhaps a larger pen could allow her to do that.

 

[aart]

Do you have a flock of other chickens?
I'd let her out with her chicks.

 

[fluffycrow]

It’s like she doesn’t want to be cooped up but doesn’t want to be away from them!

Because that's what she wants. She wants to be out WITH her chicks, to be able to teach them all the things she knows

Do you have a flock of other chickens?
I'd let her out with her chicks.

×2

 

[Emrosenagel]

Yes, I have 2 blue Andalusians, but my mama and her chicks are bantams (Cochins and serama) and much calmer. The blues tend to pick on the chicks, and mama just isn’t very good at protecting them. I got a bigger pen, but I still might put them out in the run during the day. I have holes I need to patch first, since they are extremely small chicks. I have a hawk problem and if one got out, that would be the end of it.