HELP!!! MAMA HEN EATING HER CHICKS?!?!

[Sunflower Surfer]

I am super confused, I left eggs in the nest box and hoped 4 chicks. I have done this many times, i went out 2 check and look for chicks on hatching day.
I saw hatched egg shells, I am guessing 4 eggs, but no chicks anywhere. I heard peeping and peeked under one of the broody hens, there was a chick hatching, the hen (Sage is her name) started pecking the chick, pretty hard. I grabbed the chick and tried putting it under a few other broody hens. they all reacted the same.
The poor baby, I put it inside under a heat lamp. Do u think they have eaten chicks before?

 

[nuthatched]

I don't know what to tell you, many things would have to be off hens to be desperate/stressed enough to kill and eat their chicks. I've never even heard of a hen doing that before. pictures of you set up would help and what do you feed them, how long have they been broody, is your coop predator proof because crows/ravens will steal chicks and eggs.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It's likely there is something wrong with the chick and others got to the missing ones

 

[Sunflower Surfer]

They have been all a mix, some were broody and are not now, I think the most recent was broody for 2 weeks. I am feeding them farmers best pellets. Definitaly perditor proof, 7 foot tall gate all around and covered in trees. About 2 days before i found a dead chick in the middle of the coop, free range area. And cracked eggshells. It seems to be happening at sunset.

 

[Sunflower Surfer]

update- the chick has hatched and luckily not hurt.

 

[Sunflower Surfer]

Fence Looks like this completely around the entire coop/free range area

 

[Sunflower Surfer]

Egg yolk, around nest box and on other eggs. This hen was prob eating some or accidentally stepped on it.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

That fence isn't going to keep most things out. Just keep chickens in

 

[Sunflower Surfer]

i just checked on the chick, it had passed. i am very confused. it was warm and hatched normally

 

[nuthatched]

Sounds like crows