Angry broody

[hennypenny33]

I have a hen who is hatching 7 eggs. She was brooding alongside another broody when her eggs started to pip. The other broody wanted to make trouble and the hen sitting on fertile eggs pecked at the two pipping eggs, tore open the shells and killed the chicks. It was awful! I put her and her remaining eggs in a secluded pen and she has since calmed down, but is viscous when I try to check her remaining eggs. When they peep to her she clucks back, but I’m very worried about when they hatch. She’s not giving me much confidence that she’s a safe mother. Should I let her hatch them and just keep monitoring her? I’m considering getting an incubator from the grange tomorrow as an emergency back up. This has been so upsetting. My other hen who’s gone broody in the past would have never harmed a chick. I’m very concerned for their safety.

 

[Mvan42]

I would probably take them, especially if she does it again. That’s my opinion, never had something like that happen.

 

[hennypenny33]

I would probably take them, especially if she does it again. That’s my opinion, never had something like that happen.

I checked on her early this morning and another had hatched. She’s been talking to it and keeping her body raised so not to crush it. She let me take it out and look it over and when I gave the chick back she gently tucked it under her. I believe that’s a good sign. I’ll be monitoring her very closely over the next few days.

 

[Mvan42]

I checked on her early this morning and another had hatched. She’s been talking to it and keeping her body raised so not to crush it. She let me take it out and look it over and when I gave the chick back she gently tucked it under her. I believe that’s a good sign. I’ll be monitoring her very closely over the next few days.

Sounds like she might be fine, but yes I would keep an eye on her just Incase.

 

[hennypenny33]

She’s got the hang of it now! She loves her babies and is a lot less mean to me too. 2 eggs have hatched and one has a dime size hole. That chick pipped around 8am this morning. Is it normal for it to take them that long to hatch?

 

[Mvan42]

Yes it often takes 12. + hours, the piping process takes a lot of energy. They build up their energy and start to zip. As long as it is chirping normally not historical it is fine.

 

[hennypenny33]

She now has 3 healthy chicks and is tidbitting to them I think they are going to be just fine. I do have 2 more eggs that are 24 hours past due. I know that they developed to lockdown, but maybe died after that. I hate to remove them, but they are probably not alive. I did the float test and they are floating at about 10% out of the water, but no movement. I’ll gibe them until the end of today and pull them if I don’t see any action. Thank you for your help.