Cannibal Mom & Baby

[SamLockwood]

I've had my broodies hatch multiple chicks and guinea keets over the last couple years, and there's a couple things I've noticed:

• Chickens naturally practice eugenics. If they sense that an egg or chick hasn't developed right, they'll kill and often eat it. The same holds true if an egg accidentally gets broken: they don't let good protein go to waste.
• It's best to gather all the eggs you want a broody to hatch and then put them under her all at once. If the hatch is too staggered they might start killing the late-comers.
• Some hens just aren't good mothers: they'll hatch chicks only to either abandon or kill them.
• It's better to separate the broodies from the rest of the flock when it gets close to hatching time. Some hens get very aggressive to the rest of the flock when they have chicks, other times another flock member will force her way into the nesting box to lay an egg and kill any chicks they see there on purpose, or by accident and trample them. Again, chickens tend to be pragmatic and won't waste good protein.
• It's best to keep your new mother separted from the flock by a wire screen with her own food and water so the flock can see and hear her but can't get at the babies. After a week the chicks are mobile enough they can run away from trouble on their own and are much more able to follow mom around.
• Yes, it's possible the chick-eating may become a habit and you'll either want to cull her or just not use her as a brood mother in the future.