Broody problems

[CashewVulture]

I have 3 broody hens who have been sitting on eggs for 20+ days. Two were sitting on nothing and one was sitting on 5 eggs. Today they started hatching and the hen with the 5 eggs decided to brutally peck her first chick. She was cool with it until it had completely finished hatching, then she started attacking. This isn’t my first time with agressive broodies so I recognized the bad behavior quickly and grabbed the chick. No worries, I’ll just give it to my other chicken moms…or so I thought. I tried to give the chick to my two others (who are brooding together) and they also were frightened by it and pecked it.

What now? I have 3 broodies who have sat on nests for 3+ weeks and they won’t accept chicks? I’m confused!

I set a small last minute brooder box in my room for now… but should I give up hope on trying to introduce the chick to the moms? How should I introduce it to them? At night? Or maybe they all just hate this one particular chick???

The other eggs are in an incubator now, 2 had started hatching but got shrink wrapped since my main broody hopped off the nest while they were hatching. I should be able to save them. They still have some red veins so I will wait before assisting.

Note: all broodies are first time moms and are 1 year old. My main one, was actually raised by a broody herself, so it’s kind of suprising that she’s agressive.

 

[Debbie292d]

First time broodies are so unpredictable.

I'm not sure I'd try at night unless you're up early to go check in the morning. Otherwise, once they've dried off in the incubator, I'd wait a day before trying. That way they have a little more strength to run if needed.

 

[CashewVulture]

First time broodies are so unpredictable.

I'm not sure I'd try at night unless you're up early to go check in the morning. Otherwise, once they've dried off in the incubator, I'd wait a day before trying. That way they have a little more strength to run if needed.

Thanks. Good idea. I’ll wait until they’re dried and are more active. Hopefully later tomorrow. I’m crossing my fingers that at least one of them will accept I really don’t want to break 3 broodies all at once and be stuck with indoor chicks.

 

[CashewVulture]

Well I tried again today and…it worked! She seems to be a rough mom since she pecks them quite a lot but the pecks are gentle, she seems to be pecking them so they go under her. She also made the classic mom to chick communication so I decided to let them stay with her. They slept under her almost all day and are okay. She hasn’t called them for food yet but we will see tomorrow. She just seems inexperienced but not killer.