Broody hen pecks first chick

[Corazon Ranch]

I have a broody hen sitting on eggs inside my brooder box, and today is hatch day! First chick started zipping around 9AM. But by noon she started pecking the first chick before it fully escaped the shell.

She did stop after I moved the chick away from her face, and it has successfully gotten out of it's shell now. It's mostly dry, but she wont sit on it. Any tips or suggestions?

I've never hatched eggs before, even though I've had chickens for 10 years. I was planning on "letting nature take its course," but I find myself unable to stand by and let her kill the chick(s).

Three other eggs (there were nine under her total) have pipped but not zipped. It's about 90°F inside the coop, but only 13% humidity.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some broody hens only want to set. They don't know what chicks are. If there's pecking I would remove the chicks and not use that hen again.

 

[chickens really]

Stress from hatching with other Birds around can be an issue. I always separate my Broody to a private Brooder away from the flock.

 

[cmom]

If you have something to hatch in I would move the eggs to the hatcher.

 

[Cherry67]

Broody and good momma do not always go hand in hand. Right now I'm dealing with a silkie momma that has 2 4 day old chicks...and so far has done nothing with them but sit on em.
They need to be shown what to do..I'm seriously considering giving the babies to my other momma with 1 chick.
Point being..sometimes you have to take the babies unfortunately

 

[chickens really]

Broody and good momma do not always go hand in hand. Right now I'm dealing with a silkie momma that has 2 4 day old chicks...and so far has done nothing with them but sit on em.
They need to be shown what to do..I'm seriously considering giving the babies to my other momma with 1 chick.
Point being..sometimes you have to take the babies unfortunately

You might have to literally pick her up and move her so she realizes she has no more eggs to hatch..That's what I've had to do.

 

[Cherry67]

You might have to literally pick her up and move her so she realizes she has no more eggs to hatch..That's what I've had to do.

I tried that this morning...they been in the hatch crate and its nice out, so put em out and watched with my coffee..lol
Not only did she walk off from them...she found a egg that Luna (my young silkie) dropped in the yard. She found it..and yes, kindly proceeded to sit on it..lol
I'm gonna work with her more today tho