hen and rooster killed one chick of 6; why?

[jjhphome]

My hen sat on fertilized eggs and they all hatched and are beautiful. I noticed that one kept seeming to "get in trouble". I came home the first day after a few hours to find only feathers and no life sign of the one the hen seemed to "pick on". I guess she and the rooster pecked it, killed it, no way nothing got to it, all other five are fine and well and it didn't escape. Why did she not like it?

 

[chicmom]

You know, sometimes that just happens. Maybe the hen realized that something was internally wrong with the chick, or the rooster could have just killed it for no particular reason. Chickens can be violent. I've heard where the mama hen killed each chick, one by one as they hatch. Some are just not good mothers too.

So sorry to hear that,
Sharon

 

[CubRed]

yup...sounds like mother natures way of culling...

 

[Bookworm chick]

Last year I had one chick out of seven that the rooster decided he didn't like. He didn't kill it though, probably because it was older (about 4 weeks) but it had a bald patch around it's neck that never grew back by the time I sold it (a roo) at about 12 weeks.
Just a couple of weeks ago I put a hen and her one chick back in with the flock (chick was just 2 weeks old). She was very protective and fought first the alpha hen (got her butt whipped too) and then the rooster came over to her and she fought HIM. The mother wouldn't submit to the roo and the chick got knocked down in the midst of it and the rooster started on the chick. I was right nearby when it happened and immediately went in and booted him off and then snatched the chick up because the others were moving in for a snack. The chick was limp, barely breathing and appeared to be dying. It's neck was slightly bloody. I gave it a drink of water after 5 minutes. It appeared slightly revived but still limp. Would you believe that 10 minutes later that tough little chick was up and peeping for it's mother! I cleaned it's neck wound and put ointment on it and put it back with it's mother in a separate cage.

Here they are a week later. His neck is healed, but no feathers on part of it. Chicks are tough.