Broody Hens killing chicks that look different?!

[whatthecluck]

This is the first year I’ve had so many broody hens at once, 5 to start but two flaked out towards the end and left the other three rotating to save babies so I slipped the eggs in between three nests successfully. I have half of my coop completely locked down for the three broody hens and their new chicks. What we have is 8 little chicks all black with some white on heads or wings (barnyard mixes) and they are successfully getting all around as I built the floor up with shavings so they can reach nest boxes etc. There is ample food and water that I’m changing several times a day. The hens have been taking turns sitting on the remaining two nests and one is always out of the nests with the babies. This is not something I’ve done before in this way but something they have essentially come up with on their own and it seems mostly to be Ok with the occasional fight between a hen wanting to be out of the nest and down with the babies. I’ve seen them peck at one another and one eventually goes back to eggs (not always the same one). So here’s the sad part. One little silvery baby was found yesterday morning with no head, but the body was in beautiful shape and it was clear that they pecked the head right off of it. I assumed that this was due to some weakness I hadn’t seen, however, later yesterday a little yellow chick emerged and was happy under momma. By later last night when it was strong enough to join the rest of the chicks? I came out and found it pecked on both sides of its head and removed it from the coop and have it inside under a heat lamp. Once pecked, even the babies were pecking the blood spot.
Are they selecting the light colored chicks as intruders since they now have 9 black and white babies and the new ones looked different? They accepted a newly hatched black and white hen yesterday or Id assume it was the newer babies seeming weaker? Because it’s a staggered hatch and they are still sitting I’m worried about the remaining hatchlings. I have two roosters (not in with the brood now), one is clearly dominant and this is making me feel like I’m watching Chicken Game of Thrones with the beheading of the bastard babies of the nonalpha rooster
What exactly are they doing in there?

 

[DobieLover]

I've read about the different looking chicks being attacked.
You have three broodies. Can you remove the broody that is with the black chicks the most and put all the hatched black chicks with her leaving two broodies to finish hatching the rest of the eggs?
Then monitor what goes on with the chicks that continue to hatch. Separate the two broodies you have as far apart as possible so when one of her chicks hatch, it will likely stay closer to her and not wander over to the other hen.

 

[whatthecluck]

Thank you. That’s a good idea, but I’m not sure how to quickly put together three ample nests all safe from predators and the other chickens in the flock. The half Of the coop that I have locked down isn’t large enough that they’d be happy for very long closed in to too small of an area. I’ll see if my husband can help me in some way, maybe we can get hardwire cloth up through half of it somehow at least. The pecked baby did actually make it through the night indoors though I’m not sure it will ultimately make it. I think I’ll pull any future babies that look different and bring them inside as we have setup for chicks easy enough and can reintroduce them when they are bigger. Also will look into separating the three somehow.

 

[2 many chickens]

I would take any remaining eggs, hatch them and brood them yourself. Chances are there will be more deaths.

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you. That’s a good idea, but I’m not sure how to quickly put together three ample nests all safe from predators and the other chickens in the flock. The half Of the coop that I have locked down isn’t large enough that they’d be happy for very long closed in to too small of an area. I’ll see if my husband can help me in some way, maybe we can get hardwire cloth up through half of it somehow at least. The pecked baby did actually make it through the night indoors though I’m not sure it will ultimately make it. I think I’ll pull any future babies that look different and bring them inside as we have setup for chicks easy enough and can reintroduce them when they are bigger. Also will look into separating the three somehow.

The broody that takes the black chicks doesn't need to be kept away from the rest of the flock. She will protect the chicks from the rest of the flock if it's even needed. Which it should not be. She will ground nest on the floor of the coop. The only thing you have to do is make sure that the entire flock is on an appropriate feed. Something like Flock Raiser or All Flock works well in crumble form. Just put out some containers of oyster shell for the active layers. If you've got roosters you should be feeding this way regardless.

 

[whatthecluck]

The broody that takes the black chicks doesn't need to be kept away from the rest of the flock. She will protect the chicks from the rest of the flock if it's even needed. Which it should not be. She will ground nest on the floor of the coop. The only thing you have to do is make sure that the entire flock is on an appropriate feed. Something like Flock Raiser or All Flock works well in crumble form. Just put out some containers of oyster shell for the active layers. If you've got roosters you should be feeding this way regardless.

Thank you that’s very helpful!

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you that’s very helpful!

It'ss possible that the hen that is spending the most time with the black chicks is the one responsible for attacking the non-black chicks. So hopefully if you remove her and the other hens are able to hatch their chicks they will accept them and protect them.
I have a very mixed flock. None of the chicks in my broods have all been the same ever. And the mothers have always accepted them. You have multiple broodies. So it's not surprising that some of them look at the newly hatched chicks as Interlopers and kill them. Good luck!

 

[whatthecluck]

I have always had a very mixed flock without trouble too...darnit this is a first! I was excited that they were helping one another until it turned to savage mode. I am still surprised that they are distinguishing colors like this. I guess because it so obviously contrasts against the others that they think it’s an intruder when all of the initial hatch looked the same. I wish the silver and yellow hatched in the beginning, I bet that would have helped!

 

[Blitzwhite]

Thank you. That’s a good idea, but I’m not sure how to quickly put together three ample nests all safe from predators and the other chickens in the flock. The half Of the coop that I have locked down isn’t large enough that they’d be happy for very long closed in to too small of an area. I’ll see if my husband can help me in some way, maybe we can get hardwire cloth up through half of it somehow at least. The pecked baby did actually make it through the night indoors though I’m not sure it will ultimately make it. I think I’ll pull any future babies that look different and bring them inside as we have setup for chicks easy enough and can reintroduce them when they are bigger. Also will look into separating the three somehow.

I had 6 chick's. 2 black 4 yellow.day one they killed one of the blacks day 2 tried to kill the other one. I took that one in as a pet and she loves attention. Being held and petted. I have a huge indoor rabbit cage she's very comfortable in. Who knew chickens were racist? /snark