[Bionic]

My chicks are 6 weeks old and I have noticed that for the last week mum has been eating more of the food herself and leaving the chicks to roam a bit further on their own.
Yesterday I also discovered a stash of eggs that she has laid this past week. So they would have been 5 weeks old when she started laying. Is this usual?
Sally

[Beewyched]

Hiya Sally 
Yep, this is usual with ours anyway (Banty crosses & Barnevelders) the Bantys usually start to "wean-off" the chicks after a month or so & start laying another cluch & go broody again at least twice every year - though one of them is actually sitting for the 3rd time at the moment 

[in the hills]

Find it varies a lot. The pekins though good mums seem to tire of their chicks by 4 wks or so whereas my Friesians will stay with their babes until they are as big as they are. Seems that they come into lay as they show signs of wanting to leave their brood to it. Job done. 

[Bionic]

Last night the young ones went into the stables to bed as usual but mum didn't seem to want to join them. She went up the garden to the coop with the big girls. Everyone seemed to be happy so thats how I left them. As you say in the hills "job done"
thanks
Sally