I am letting the hen raise her own poults. Today is day 3. I took them out of the nest and dipped their beaks. Most took a long drink. Later I saw the hen throwing one of the babies. It was the second one she injured. Is it normal for hens to cull some of the brood??? There are 11.
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- Thread starter Glenmar
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https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/549832/why-would-a-mother-hen-try-to-kill-her-newly-hatched-chick
Mother hens have a sense for sick chicks. Evolution is still in play even after 5,000 years of domestication. She could be culling chicks that are sick.
on the other hand, some hens are nuts and dont know what to do. Chances are she has never been mothered herself if she was hatched from an incubator. if this is the case, she may never have learned what is required. Or she just may be neurotic. Either way, its a good idea to remove the chicks before she continues the behavior. Some hens do great for a week then start killing.
Another thing that comes to mind is lighting. We had a dog once that was a wonderful mother, fantastic dog and always very friendly. However, one day after delivering her 3rd set of pups, she went nuts and started killing them. It turned out that the 24 hour light we had on her was causing her to go crazy from lack of sleep. She wasnt getting the full rest she needed and was losing her head. After taking the pups for a few hours and letting her rest, she took to being a good mom again. If your hen is exposed to 24 hour lighting, it might be the cause. if not, maybe she needs a break.
I dont know if chickens can handle the removal of their chicks for an hour, but it might be something to look up. Maybe she needs a mommy break. Especially if its her first time.
11 is a LOT of chicks for one hen too I think. Maybe she is frazzled. Or perhaps she smells you on the chicks and its making her think they arent hers.
One thing Ive done to get a cat to mother kittens that are not hers is to put a dab of vanilla extract on her nose and do the same to the kittens. She takes them in like they are her own.
Mother hens have a sense for sick chicks. Evolution is still in play even after 5,000 years of domestication. She could be culling chicks that are sick.
on the other hand, some hens are nuts and dont know what to do. Chances are she has never been mothered herself if she was hatched from an incubator. if this is the case, she may never have learned what is required. Or she just may be neurotic. Either way, its a good idea to remove the chicks before she continues the behavior. Some hens do great for a week then start killing.
Another thing that comes to mind is lighting. We had a dog once that was a wonderful mother, fantastic dog and always very friendly. However, one day after delivering her 3rd set of pups, she went nuts and started killing them. It turned out that the 24 hour light we had on her was causing her to go crazy from lack of sleep. She wasnt getting the full rest she needed and was losing her head. After taking the pups for a few hours and letting her rest, she took to being a good mom again. If your hen is exposed to 24 hour lighting, it might be the cause. if not, maybe she needs a break.
I dont know if chickens can handle the removal of their chicks for an hour, but it might be something to look up. Maybe she needs a mommy break. Especially if its her first time.
11 is a LOT of chicks for one hen too I think. Maybe she is frazzled. Or perhaps she smells you on the chicks and its making her think they arent hers.
One thing Ive done to get a cat to mother kittens that are not hers is to put a dab of vanilla extract on her nose and do the same to the kittens. She takes them in like they are her own.
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- Thread starter
- #3
Would she kill them because I touched them?? She was hatched in an incubator I am sure. These are her first babies.
Most were hatched 3 days ago. Today I took them to the water. They were thirsty. I have put lots of turkey starter feed around for them to find. She does not seem to mind me in there with them. She calls them to her. When I left, all were back in the nest.
Why was she aggressive to that one poult?? I think there was a second one that also looked like it had been roughed up. I don't think that first one is going to make it, and I am wondering if I should take them all away or give her a chance.
Most were hatched 3 days ago. Today I took them to the water. They were thirsty. I have put lots of turkey starter feed around for them to find. She does not seem to mind me in there with them. She calls them to her. When I left, all were back in the nest.
Why was she aggressive to that one poult?? I think there was a second one that also looked like it had been roughed up. I don't think that first one is going to make it, and I am wondering if I should take them all away or give her a chance.
WOW! Interesting story. Sorry to hear about what is going on. I have taken poults away from the hen with no problems and put them back. The mother accepted the poult back and cared for it. I have never heard about about the "touching" part.
This is a tricky situation here. They do know when one of their own is sick and that could be why she was throwing it around. At the same time, I would be VERY cautious about leaving those babies with her. If it were my hen and I saw her throwing a baby around (total of 2 injured), I would immediately remove ALL of the babies. I'm just overly cautious and in my mind, I would think that she will kill all of them. But that's just me. She may not do anything to the other babies but then again she may. Look at your options.
Option #1 - Leave the babies with the mom and possibly lose (injury or death) even more poults due to some misfortune guided by the hen.
Option # 2 - Take the poults and have all of them survive without having any misfortune at the hand of the mother.
The other part that I am most confused about is them taking a long drink of water. So you had to take them to "show" them how to eat and drink? Did she not do that? So, she did not teach them how to eat and drink? If that is the case, that worries me.
You said that you think that one may not make it? Hmmmmmm, not good. I always say, "follow your first mind" and on this one, I would take the babies. At least give them at a chance of survival. You can't be with the babies to monitor their safety 24/7.
Maybe she is just not ready to be a mother. She will have another chance at laying eggs and being a mother but if the babies are killed, they won't have another chance. :/
That's just my 2 cents.
This is a tricky situation here. They do know when one of their own is sick and that could be why she was throwing it around. At the same time, I would be VERY cautious about leaving those babies with her. If it were my hen and I saw her throwing a baby around (total of 2 injured), I would immediately remove ALL of the babies. I'm just overly cautious and in my mind, I would think that she will kill all of them. But that's just me. She may not do anything to the other babies but then again she may. Look at your options.
Option #1 - Leave the babies with the mom and possibly lose (injury or death) even more poults due to some misfortune guided by the hen.
Option # 2 - Take the poults and have all of them survive without having any misfortune at the hand of the mother.
The other part that I am most confused about is them taking a long drink of water. So you had to take them to "show" them how to eat and drink? Did she not do that? So, she did not teach them how to eat and drink? If that is the case, that worries me.
You said that you think that one may not make it? Hmmmmmm, not good. I always say, "follow your first mind" and on this one, I would take the babies. At least give them at a chance of survival. You can't be with the babies to monitor their safety 24/7.
Maybe she is just not ready to be a mother. She will have another chance at laying eggs and being a mother but if the babies are killed, they won't have another chance. :/
That's just my 2 cents.
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How did you rearrange the `arrangements', after the hatch?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/768720/how-close-should-i-put-food-and-water
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/768720/how-close-should-i-put-food-and-water
- Thread starter
- #6
She seems better today. 10 babies lest out of 11. She does not seen to mind me handling them. I took them out of the nest to the water because she just wanted to mother them on the nest. She is standing or sitting and letting them get under neigh her now. I will continue to monitor and make sure they are eating and drinking. She is clucking to them also.
Great! Sounds like she is having a much better day. This is good news! Perhaps she was just hormonal at that time. Keep us posted on her behavior.
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- #8
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- #9
Awesome!!!Heres a picture
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