Help with new mama pecking chicks

[jamikay25]

Hello!
We have 2 silkie hens that went broody about 1 week apart. They have been sharing and hatching the eggs together. First babies started hatching on Easter Sunday so they are about 1.5 weeks, we have new ones hatch almost daily (up to10 now) and we have 3 eggs left that are still being hatched out. Both hens have still been sitting on the eggs and caring for babies but today our hen that had gone broody first started pecking at the chicks. She seems to be going after them all and pecked some so hard that she lifted them off the ground. They seem to be ok and I have removed her from the area. She is pacing to go back in but I am afraid to let her. What is going on with her?? This is our first time hatching chicks.

 

[Wezdin]

Dont let her back with the chicks, not sure what else to say, @Texas Kiki @sourland

 

[tacothechicken]

Are the babies trying to crawl from the nest? I've seen multiple broodies give a hard peck to young chicks while others are still hatching cause they dont want them wandering when they cant follow so instead they peck at them to drive them back under them.

 

[jamikay25]

Yes, twice today I have found chicks out in the fenced area rather than inside the coop. I thought maybe it was just time for the older ones to venture out but I put them back inside anyway. The second time I put them back is when I saw her pecking them and I wasnt sure if maybe the other babies had left the coop to escape from her. When I first opened the door, she was sitting on 2 eggs and the other hen had 1 plus they both had babies under them

Are the babies trying to crawl from the nest? I've seen multiple broodies give a hard peck to young chicks while others are still hatching cause they dont want them wandering when they cant follow so instead they peck at them to drive them back under them.

 

[tacothechicken]

Also. How old are the oldest chicks? If she is expecting day olds amd you've got older babies in whith her she may think theyre orphans, which only the most perfect broodies take to, and otherwise will attack them to drive them away as they aren't 'Thier' chicks.

 

[tacothechicken]

Im betting she's still in hatching stage and sees the older chicks as 'not hers' and is probably going after them to chase them away from her nest :/ best to remove the chicks or remove broody as otherwise she may kill them.

 

[jamikay25]

They vary, the oldest one is 1.5 weeks. I tried putting her back and she is now sitting on eggs and chicks and not pecking, I'm nervous that she will start again though

Also. How old are the oldest chicks? If she is expecting day olds amd you've got older babies in whith her she may think theyre orphans, which only the most perfect broodies take to, and otherwise will attack them to drive them away as they aren't 'Thier' chicks.

 

[sourland]

Under normal brooding circumstances a hen lays a clutch of eggs, sets, and then within 36 hours of the first chick hatching she leaves the nest. The biological rhythms of those hens are all messed up. @tacothechicken is probably correct in that she looks at some of the chicks as 'not hers'. This is one of the many reasons that I dislike and do not allow staggered hatches.

 

[ReagyEggy]

I agree with @sourland. Not sure if there is much more you can do though.

 

[jamikay25]

Thank you all for the advice. We have separated the nicer hen with the chicks and left the pecking one with the remaining eggs and everyone seems happy now. Lesson learned, no more mixing of broody hens in the future. Hopefully she does well with the chicks when the remaining eggs hatch