Broody hen pecking at last hatching egg!

[amynw]

Hello! I have a broody momma who had 5 chicks hatch 3 days ago. One externally pipped today, just when we were about to give up. When momma saw it, she started pecking the egg aggressively and kicked pine shavings all over it and drew blood, I’m assuming from the blood vessels on the shell. I took the egg inside with me and have it in the incubator. Will I have to mother this chick on my own and not give it back to her? What would make her do that? I hope this chick survives. It is still opening its beak inside the shell.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Typically by day 2 she has shifted from incubating mode to mothering mode, to take care of the new hatchlings, so she likely isn't interested in hatching this chick. It took too long.

Which means she may view it a threat to her new little brood or simply that it is defective because it took too long. (Note: always set eggs at the same time to avoid staggered hatches).

You can see if this chick will hatch in the incubator then try to integrate it at night after it has dried off and is up on its feet well. Trying to place it under her until then will likely end in disaster as the chick needs a setting hen while this is a mothering hen.

Hopefully when you place the chick at night, and if it is strong enough to keep up, it will integrate into this brood and do well. However, it can be tough on the younger one when momma is up teaching the older ones to scratch and peck...the littles want to be cuddled and under momma, so they often get kicked.

Be prepared you may have to incubate and brood it yourself. You could take one of its older siblings to keep it company if it comes to that. Then integrate them at 6 weeks.

My experiences.
LofMc