Broody hen killing baby chicks

[Shadrach]

Hang on, in a couple of posts above you wrote you killed hens that killed their chicks so how do you know if the killer gene whatever gets transfered to the offspring?

 

[Shadrach]

None of this is helping the OP and not worth the discussion. We all do for our Birds as we see fit. It's a forum and OP decides what to do..
I Cull sick birds without much hesitation to save them.
Momma problem was a first time Broody and if stressed they will kill Chicks. She probably will be excellent next hatch..

I think the OP has already made the decision so I can't see any problem with the debate as long as it's polite and friendly.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Hang on, in a couple of posts above you wrote you killed hens that killed their chicks so how do you know if the killer gene whatever gets transfered to the offspring?

I caught her killing the chicks. I stood there watching her hatch the rest for hours. As soon as they started peeping I took them away. When she was done hatching what was left I took them away. I didn’t just stand by to let her kill them all?
Once the chicks started peeping is when the hen would start pecking their eyes and head.

 

[roosterhavoc]

None of this is helping the OP and not worth the discussion. We all do for our Birds as we see fit. It's a forum and OP decides what to do..
I Cull sick birds without much hesitation to save them.
Momma problem was a first time Broody and if stressed they will kill Chicks. She probably will be excellent next hatch..

Thank you for your expertise.

 

[chickens really]

Thank you for your expertise.

....

 

[Shadrach]

I caught her killing the chicks. I stood there watching her hatch the rest for hours. As soon as they started peeping I took them away. When she was done hatching what was left I took them away. I didn’t just stand by to let her kill them all?
Once the chicks started peeping is when the hen would start pecking their eyes and head.

Oh right. I understand now.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Oh right. I understand now.

I took these eggs and chicks away from a hen I caught last year. She already killed one and you can see how red the back is on the one chick. I caught her pecking that chick like crazy for no reason. She was in a coop by herself with no interruptions.

 

[coach723]

Interesting discussion. There are SO many variables with every hen and every hatch that I find it fascinating that so many opinions are so black and white. I honestly think that every situation has to be looked at individually and decisions are based on that very individual group of circumstances. In this case I would have done as the OP and tried to save any remaining hatching chicks. I can't imagine killing viable chicks, the point of hatching them was to have them, generally. I can imagine killing non viable chicks or seriously injured or deformed chicks. I probably wouldn't kill a hen that did this, but I wouldn't let her sit again either unless I was well prepared to intervene if necessary. If it happened a second time I would never let her hatch again. I also understand that philosophically people have different views on what is acceptable in keeping animals in general, so one more variable to every situation.
To @Aboddy2u , best of luck with the rest of them, I hope the majority survive and do well.

 

[Shadrach]

I took these eggs and chicks away from a hen I caught last year. She already killed one and you can see how red the back is on the one chick. I caught her pecking that chick like crazy for no reason. She was in a coop by herself with no interruptions.
View attachment 1826794

Did the one with the pecked back make it and was she normal; whatever that is in the chicken world?

 

[roosterhavoc]

Did the one with the pecked back make it and was she normal; whatever that is in the chicken world?

Lol yes he did. I had to dig for that pic