What You Should Know About Mother Hens

Mother hens have a lot of responsibility. Once they start laying eggs at about 4-5 months of age, they will spend most of their lives either producing eggs, caring for their chicks, or both. This line of work is nothing to sneeze at, as it takes plenty of energy to raise and protect baby chicks.

Mother hens will need all of the help that they can get. So, if you’re planning on raising a flock, here are some things you should know about your hens:

They communicate with baby chicks before they hatch

The job of a mother hen starts long before they meet their baby chicks for the first time. After a hen lays eggs, she will often “talk” to her babies by chirping at them. The chicks will, in turn, chirp back at the mother hen through their shells. The hen and her chicks form a bond through this communication that grows once the chicks hatch.

Mother hens are incredibly smart creatures

Hens have proven to be very intelligent creatures. Studies have shown that they can exhibit mathematical reasoning, use self-control, and do plenty of other things that suggest they are smarter than people think. This makes them particular well-suited to the role of a mother.

They are fiercely protective of their baby chicks

Chickens have to be constantly on their guard for predators. At any moment, a coyote or cat can enter a chicken coop and do some serious damage. Hens are the ones who are in charge of protecting their baby chicks when they’re young, and they will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.

Hens are essential to the success of any farm or backyard coop. If you would like to purchase baby chicks for the purpose of adding hens to your flock, Chickens for Backyards can help. Contact us at 888-412-6715 today to place an order.