Broody hen and one chick

[Kath11]

hi I have a broody hen that overnight has pecked another hen neck to the bone. The chick would be 4 weeks old. I have isolated the injured chicken into its own coop. But I think it’s time to seperate the broody hen and chicken so she is less protective. What are your thoughts. Will she peck other hens if they stay together do I need to loose her as I have read once the get the taste of meat they keep doing it.

 

[ChickenGeek_101]

You could separate them, but it would be best to maybe separate the hen (with chick) from all your other chickens. They usually don't continue chasing or fighting with the other chickens once either the chick has gotten bigger or has been separated from the hen.

Well hope that helps. Good luck

 

[Pork Pie]

Causing such damage suggests a prolonged / repeated attack and is not something I have experienced with a broody hen. I'm not sure about how you manage your flock, or space provisions, but I would leave the injured bird in isolation until she is completely healed, and then put the broody hen and chick in the separate coop, and return the injured one to the flock. These links may help on re-integration
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/reintegrating-a-recovered-hen-to-a-small-flock

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1015820/reintegration-by-supervised-visits#post_15742910

Chickens are stimulated to peck existing wounds because of colour, not taste.

 

[aart]

hi I have a broody hen that overnight has pecked another hen neck to the bone. The chick would be 4 weeks old. I have isolated the injured chicken into its own coop. But I think it’s time to seperate the broody hen and chicken so she is less protective. What are your thoughts. Will she peck other hens if they stay together do I need to loose her as I have read once the get the taste of meat they keep doing it.

It's really hard to say why the broody hen would cause such a wound,
are you sure that's what happened?
Doesn't make sense that would happen 4 weeks after hatching.

Knowing more about:
your flock size(numbers, ages, genders),
your coop(size in feet by feet with pics),
and what and how exactly you are feeding,
would offer clues to how to solve the problem.

 

[chickens really]

Sounds to me like a space issue not a Broody issue..Momma will be weaning the Chick if it has not already done it..What's the protein content of your feed?
Pecking/cannibalism is caused from either protein Deficancy. Crowding or too warm..