The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: WoodlandsDevon on July 07, 2014, 06:23:35 pm

Title: Is 6 weeks a good time to wean chicks from mum?
Post by: WoodlandsDevon on July 07, 2014, 06:23:35 pm

I have a buff Orpington hen who has raised her chicks to 6 weeks and is now laying. Can I separate her from her chicks now?
Thanks

Title: Re: Is 6 weeks a good time to wean chicks from mum?
Post by: Marches Farmer on July 07, 2014, 07:40:16 pm

I use the commencement of laying or the hen giving a chick a quick peck as a clear sign that her broodiness is over.

Title: Re: Is 6 weeks a good time to wean chicks from mum?
Post by: HesterF on July 07, 2014, 11:29:19 pm

Probably about right. Last year I had them all in one run and the broody (or ex-broody) just returned to the main house at night when she'd had enough. I've only had one hatch so far this year and she hatched geese so was in a run with them. When she started laying again, she hopped over the fence to lay in the house of the chicken growers next door so I took that as a sign and moved her out to the layers run the next day. She and goslings were all fine.

Title: Re: Is 6 weeks a good time to wean chicks from mum?
Post by: chrismahon on July 08, 2014, 05:36:43 am

We have always separated ours at 6 weeks WD. At that stage mum is losing interest in them anyway.