I have a broody ameraucana hen that was sitting. I always use an incubator. Had some eggs that were to hatch in a couple days so why not? Put one under her and it hatched. She was a great mom put wouldn't come off the nest. Sooo I put 9 lavender ameraucana eggs under her that were due to hatch in a week. Before work yesterday evening nothing. Went to check this morning. I have 6 bodies scattered all over the pen. Mom and first baby are walking around the pen fine! She is very protective off it. The others died a horrible death I'm assuming. So sad. I was horrified so I scooped up the bodies and buried them. Then there goes mom setting on the eggs that didn't hatch. I dont' understand what happened. Anyone else ever experienced anything like this. Help. Tried to let mom do it naturally and this was my result. Next time ceramic eggs hands down!!!
I wouldn't blame the hen - once a hen has chicks (or in this case one chick) she's done with eggs and she might not accept new chicks at all. I've had a broody kill another broody's chicks when they got too close to her and her babies. Not all broodies do it, but those that do are seeing it as protecting their babies and getting rid of interlopers. Your hen is likely to be a good mom to any other chicks she hatches - as long as they hatch at the same time and not a week apart.
