Broody Banty Hen

[Allietag]

I took my Granddaughters young Banty Hen in a little over a month ago. I have an established flock of chickens and then hens mostly just ignore her. 3 weeks ago the banty decided to sit on 2 eggs (not hers) and I decided to let her hatch them out. This morning I discovered that one of the chicks attempted to hatch. It never made it completely out of the shell and I am wondering if she didn't freak out and smother it or step on it. She had abandoned the nest, the other egg had a pip out of it but the other hens had laid 2 eggs in there. I checked last night and the eggs hadn't hatched.
I stuck the pipped egg under her but don't hold out much hope. I intend to boot her broody butt off of the nest this afternoon. What's my next step?

 

[RodNTN]

Just the hens breast bone can easily kill a new chick, yes- some hens actually freak out when they see a couple of fuzzy intruders taking over their nest. If the eggs don't hatch by the time you decide to kick her off you should try and break her from her broodiness. If she left the pipping egg it could've died.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

It may have been her fault, or not. Since they're were two new eggs added to the nest, I'm guessing that those other hens either ran her out, or crammed in there with her and it got squashed in all of the commotion.

The pipped egg may very well hatch, they're tougher then we think! If it doesn't and she sits again at some point, you might consider separating her into a small cage or dog crate to do her business in peace. Even though the other hens seem to ignore her, she's bound to be the lowest in the pecking order since she's new. And low order hens tend to get pushed around a lot. My lower girls get their own cage in the coop so they can be left alone and do their job without interruption. The more dominant girls are left in the nest boxes, and the other girls steer clear of them.