Hen aggressive toward new chicks

[ksbosley]

Thank you all for so many great replies!

Things are going much more smoothly now. We separated the bully hen for about 36 hours to let her think about what she'd done, and she hasn't shown much interest in mamma or the chicks since she posted bail. As some above posts suggested, she had been showing signs of broodiness; any time I kicked her out of the coop, she'd beeline right back, she got in the nest and sat down when mamma got out, and she hasn't laid an egg in a week or so. But now all of that seems to have stopped. She's still not laying, but I can excuse that for now, as her world just got a pretty good shake up.

The important thing is that mamma and chicks are safe and happy and getting stronger every day! Here's mamma and the babies - hard to get all 6 in one picture!

Thanks again to everyone!

 

[Peeps61]

she may be going broody if she's stopped laying eggs. Sounds to me like that might be your problem. She's viewing the other chicks as being in "her" territory and trying to chase them away. They do the goofiest things sometimes!

 

[Peeps61]

How precious! I love chicks and I LOVE pictures like this one! I never can get all my chicks and the hen in pictures either.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thank you all for so many great replies!

Things are going much more smoothly now. We separated the bully hen for about 36 hours to let her think about what she'd done, and she hasn't shown much interest in mamma or the chicks since she posted bail. As some above posts suggested, she had been showing signs of broodiness; any time I kicked her out of the coop, she'd beeline right back, she got in the nest and sat down when mamma got out, and she hasn't laid an egg in a week or so. But now all of that seems to have stopped. She's still not laying, but I can excuse that for now, as her world just got a pretty good shake up.

The important thing is that mamma and chicks are safe and happy and getting stronger every day! Here's mamma and the babies - hard to get all 6 in one picture!View attachment 1051528

Thanks again to everyone!

So beautiful!

That stent in lock down probably broke her broody streak. It ALWAYS takes close to 2 weeks for my girls to start laying again after broody breaking. Which does sound like part of your previous issue.

 

[BIggoMamma]

Hello all. Looking for some advice on a naughty hen.

I've got an Ameraucana who went broody. And instead of trying to break her of it, we bought some hatching eggs for her to sit on. The chicks have now hatched (6 little fluffballs!), and "mom" is taking care of them beautifully.

However, one of our other hens, a Blue Splash Marans, has shown some signs of aggression toward the chicks. She hovers over mom and chicks in the coop, puffs herself up (see attached pic) sometimes with wings outstretched, and I've even seen her peck at the babies. This is obviously not acceptable. The worst part is that, before the chicks, she was the dumbest, friendliest bird in our little flock! I have her separated from the flock for now (in an enclosed run - she stayed out there last night too), but I'm looking for some advice on what to do next. I really hate to label her as an "aggressive" bird, because she's shown no signs of it in the past; I can typically pick her up and pet her no problem.

Did we screw up by letting momma hatch the eggs in the coop? It seemed so natural. That's where she was already sitting, so we let her keep sitting in there. I don't really want to take mom and chicks out of there, because it seems like the Marans will just be crummy to them again once they're reintroduced. And my other adult bird (another Ameraucana) pays them no mind whatsoever. Will the Marans get used to them eventually? Do I cut my losses now and say goodbye to her? Any advice is much appreciated, and thank you.

 

[BIggoMamma]

Hello all. Looking for some advice on a naughty hen.

I've got an Ameraucana who went broody. And instead of trying to break her of it, we bought some hatching eggs for her to sit on. The chicks have now hatched (6 little fluffballs!), and "mom" is taking care of them beautifully.

However, one of our other hens, a Blue Splash Marans, has shown some signs of aggression toward the chicks. She hovers over mom and chicks in the coop, puffs herself up (see attached pic) sometimes with wings outstretched, and I've even seen her peck at the babies. This is obviously not acceptable. The worst part is that, before the chicks, she was the dumbest, friendliest bird in our little flock! I have her separated from the flock for now (in an enclosed run - she stayed out there last night too), but I'm looking for some advice on what to do next. I really hate to label her as an "aggressive" bird, because she's shown no signs of it in the past; I can typically pick her up and pet her no problem.

Did we screw up by letting momma hatch the eggs in the coop? It seemed so natural. That's where she was already sitting, so we let her keep sitting in there. I don't really want to take mom and chicks out of there, because it seems like the Marans will just be crummy to them again once they're reintroduced. And my other adult bird (another Ameraucana) pays them no mind whatsoever. Will the Marans get used to them eventually? Do I cut my losses now and say goodbye to her? Any advice is much appreciated, and thank you.

 

[BIggoMamma]

Every situation is different and you have to play it by ear. I had one scenario exactly like you describe with a hoverer puffing out her feathers etc. but she did not peck the chicks. I watched her and held back to see what she would do and she in fact was trying to "adopt" some of the chicks. However if yours has pecked the chicks that is different. I would consider separating the mother and baby chicks for a while until they get bigger that is what I personally do.