HELP! My hen is picking on my chick!

[KellyHM]

Here's the situation....

I got a Silkie hen a couple of weeks ago and she came with 2 chicks. One of the chicks died (don't know why) but the other one is doing fine. Yesterday I got a new chick to replace the one I lost and I knew the hen wouldn't take it in, but now she's beating it up! She won't stop chasing it around and pecking it! I know that establishment of a pecking order is normal, but this just seems excessive. The poor thing can't come out of it's hiding spot without her going after it. What should I do?

 

[pipermark]

nothing you can do but separate them or let the hen work it out, problem is she could kill the other chick. She dosnt care about the size , you introduced a strange element into her area and she is protecting her chick, this is important, she is not establishing pecking order, she is protecting her chick, that why she could actually kill the new bird.

 

[Psittizen Shikkin]

Now you need to get another chick to keep the extra one you already have company.

 

[KellyHM]

Yeah, that's the problem...I'm just going to keep adding chickens until everybody's happy! I just wanted a couple and I already have 6...what's one more, right?

 

[KellyHM]

Ok, I decided just to bring both the chicks in so they'll at least have each other. The one I took away from mom isn't happy, but I guess she'll get over it. Here they are in their new temporary home...

 

[bluey]

I think you did the absolute right thing by taking both chicks away from Mama hen. They'll both be fine together and it'll give you a chance to tame them, which i think makes caring for them that much easier.

I've read that the hens only look after babies for about 6 weeks before they push them away anyway although I'm no expert.

Good Luck!