broody hen killed its baby

[chickenreyna]

I have two broody hens.. One killed its only baby by it appeared snapping its neck & acted puzzled it wouldnt get up and kept going back to the location as if she thought it was stilled living then she tried stealing the other broody hens clutch so right now i have her sitting on ping pongs in a pet taxi separated from everyone.. Advice needed first time dealing with broody hend

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Not all broodies are good moms and know what to do with chicks. Most will happily sit on eggs, but some don't want chicks. I am always present when a virgin broody hatches to make sure it goes well, otherwise I remove the chicks. Having multiple broodies can also mess some up.

 

[chickenreyna]

Ok.. Shes had it about four days.. All appeared well until i found the body of the baby: / i watched her with it and she appeared to be fine. I guess you just never know

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Ok.. Shes had it about four days.. All appeared well until i found the body of the baby: / i watched her with it and she appeared to be fine. I guess you just never know

Was there other chickens that could get to the chick or was she separated?

 

[chickenreyna]

Was there other chickens that could get to the chick or was she separated?

Separated in a little coop. It was just her and the baby l. She got up after two days leaving two eggs because the other baby was wanting up four days ago but it was totally her decision she was standing with the baby so i put her out in a isolated coop with food and water and it all appeared good until this morning.. It was a.really really loud polish baby but tharlt shouldnt matter if it was louder than most average chicks?

 

[chickenreyna]

You cant stop a hen from being broody, correct?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You cant stop a hen from being broody, correct?

You can't stop them from becoming broody, but you can break them as soon as you notice it by putting them in a wire bottom crate slightly elevated off the ground for 3-5 days on average. I also can break them by just confining them away from their chosen nest site. I break broodies weekly here.

I wouldn't let your hen raise chicks anymore. She could still incubate them, but I would remove chicks as they hatch and brood them yourself.

 

[Ladybird CA]

Did you actually see her take the chick around and peck food with it? If hens have remaining eggs, especially if the eggs are several days younger than the chick then the hen doesn't properly feed the chick. The chick can live off its yolk sac for 3 days by the 4th it can die and cheaping loudly is a sign that it is hungry. But if the hen seemed to have forgotten about the other eggs since she didn't have them anymore and was feeding the chick then I don't know what got into her.

 

[aart]

..or there could have been something wrong with the chick.

 

[bobbi-j]

Did you actually witness the hen killing the chick?