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I'm guessing she's inexperienced at this. They don't all take to it like ducks to water - as indeed not all other animal (including human) mums are cut out for it.

Wish I could advise, but none of mine have done that with chicks so young. Are you sure she's done with them for good, and not just taking a break?

my broodies typically stay with their chicks longer than 6 weeks; the best one last year (whose whole brood is still with us, laying and crowing as appropriate) started drifting away from them from 3 months, and it was a few weeks more before she roosted back with the grown ups.

I think what you witnessed is entirely natural behaviour for chickens. It's lovely. :love

:fl:fl:fl

They have been doing it on their own for millions of years! Try to make their lives easier not harder when you intervene.

My broodies hatch within the flock. Like others, I have found some are good at it, some not so, and that it's impossible to predict on the basis of breed or age whether a given pullet or hen will be one or the other; if they feel the urge, you just have to let them try to find out. And they do...