Hen attacking baby chick!

[kmw1101]

We have three broody hens right now. Two of them have hatched eggs. One hatched three black (Barred Plymouth rock/Bantam mix) babies and one hatched a single yellow (Brahma/Bantam mix) baby. They are both good mothers to their own chicks. Today the four babies and two mamas ended up in the same area for a moment. The mom with the three babies started attacking the yellow baby that wasn't hers. She kept going after her but I finally got to them and pulled the baby away (who was not badly injured). The mother of the yellow baby did nothing to protect her and actually ran away. Is this fairly typical? Will I need to keep them completely separated? They are only about 2 days old and the moms are still sitting on eggs.

 

[GitaBooks]

Yes, my bantam momma managed to attack and kill all three of my standard sized EEs chicks, even though I'm sure my EE tried to defend. It was really sad, and from now on I'm very careful to keep my bantam momma away from other broodies and their babies until the babies are old enough to defend themselves (fully feathered).

I would suggest moving one of them into a large, broody pen with food, water, and a nest (and a dust bathing area), to let them strengthen up. Eggs that haven't hatched in two days may have been incubated later than the other, but more likely they are infertile or dead. You should remove them and put them in an incubator or try candling them.

Sorry for all the advise, I'm just tired of losing my on chicks and hope that yours all remain healthy and happy. Best of luck!

Beauty, my bantam momma. She just hatched out a chick a couple days ago.

 

[Babushkamama]

Hi
I have had a broody try and steal another hens babies, not kill them. But I had a mother hen kill her own babies, she killed 3 and I saved one. She actually scalped them. It was horrible and shocking. She lost her head, literally.

 

[AnnieSantiago]

Oh, that is scary stuff!

I've separated my mama and 8 chicks from the other two girls.
I don't want to take any chances after having such good luck with the hatching!