Hen is killing all of her chicks as they hatch! PLEASE HELP!

[Lilytoes]

I saved four but she has killed at least two and was trying to kill the rest. She beaks the eggs then she takes them out and shakes the chicks by the throat. What do I need to do for the chicks and I took the remaining four eggs. I don't have anything like an incubator. I bought these little round disc for my cats to help keep them warm. Do you think that if I warm it up and put the chicks on it would it be o.k. ? The 4 egss that are ready to hatch could I also put them on it. I put a towel down so not to burn them. Can they eat on thier own? PLEASE HELP!

 

[paddock36]

Not sure about the discs you are talking about. Do you have a lamp that you could put the eggs under and mist the eggs with water to help keep the humidity up while they are still trying to hatch? Hopefully someone else will chime in for more advise to you than I can offer. I hope they will be ok.

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

Our experience has been that a hen will do that if she feels there is a threat to the chicks. Rabbits will do the same thing. Is the hen around other birds that might be getting too close to her? Is she a first time broody? The chicks and the eggs need to be kept around 99 degrees for hatching and survival. A small box with a towel in it and a light over top will generally get warm enough in a pinch. If you have a flood light bulb available that would work better than a regular bulb. It would direct more heat downward.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Do you have an electric skillet or a crock pot? Put either of these on it's very most lowest level and a damp paper towel inside. Leave the lid cracked slightly for ventilation. Finish hatching your eggs in this.

The chicks that are hatched can be kept in a box with a lamp over it for heat. Try to use at least a 100 watt bulb and make sure that the lamp will support this wattage so you don't cause a fire. You can use paper towels in the bottom of your box, don't use newspaper! Too slick and the chicks will end up spraddle legged.

 

[Intheswamp]

Get a large cardboard box and a lamp of some kind (around a 60w bulb).

Place some paper towels in the bottom of the box and hang the light bulb above the surface...try it at about 16" high to start with and see how the chicks react...

If the chicks huddle under the bulb then lower the bulb a couple of inches (they're too cold). If they appear to try to get as far from the bulb as they can then raise the bulb (they're too hot). If the chicks are walking all over the place, under and out from under the lamp, then it's probably about at the right height.

Put some feed in a shallow dish (shoe box lid) and tap on the box lid to attract the chicks to it. You really need a waterer made for chicks. If you have one then touch each of their beaks to the water so they know where it's at. You could make a chick waterer out of a plastic jar if you need to...put a small (1/8"?) hole in the side of the jar towards the bottom about a 1/2" from the bottom. Fill with water, screw lid back on and sit the jar down into a shallow dish that is deeper than 1/2". The water should flow out until it reaches the height of the hole and then stop. Be sure the lid has a tight, airtight seal. Put some marbles/clean rocks in the water dish to keep the chicks from climbing in and drowning...they'll sip water from between the rocks/marbles.

If you have a room/outdoor thermometer you might set it in the box with the chicks to monitor the temperature. 95F would be a good target temp for the first week.

You will need to study up on brooders and raising baby chicks, but this should get your chicks stabilized for the time being.

Best wishes!
Ed

 

[Intheswamp]

As for the eggs, they need to be kept moist and warm. If you can keep them at 95F-100F and in a moist/humid environment they have a very good chance of making it. They really need to be kept moist to keep them from being "shrink wrapped". Like the chicks, place them in a cardboard box. But, add a shallow, but wide pan of warm water....if you have some type of screen that you can put over the pan of water that will keep hatched chicks from falling in...you can place the eggs directly on the screen. Some warm wet towels will also help. A light bulb burning will furnish the heat energy that they need. A thermometer is definitely needed here. Cover the top with something that will help hold the moisture inside.

With both the chick brooder and the makeshift incubator you need to be *very* careful about having the light bulbs too close to combustible material. A few chicks are not worth burning down your house for.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[sheena6292]

I have no advice. Just wanted to wish you luck with your little one.

 

[wegotchickens]

My broody hen is a great mom now, but on her first hatch she was forcefully shoving the chicks back under her when they tried to peek out. She killed 3 before I realized what was going on. After that I checked her every hour or so and pulled dry chicks out before they were ready to explore. But it was very upsetting to see!!

After that I raised those chicks in a brooder.

But the next time she went broody she did an AWESOME job as mom, and has been good ever since.


If you're worried you can't keep the eggs warm and moist enough, put the box & lamp in the bathroom counter, and run the shower as hot as it will go for a few minutes. That will heat the bathroom and create humidity. If the already hatched chicks start to pant, then it is too warm (in case you don't have a thermomenter).

 

[fordmommy]

Hope you can save them.

 

[holachicka]

I hope they make it!

Good luck and please keep us posted!