Hen Killed Chick

[bwindell]

After 21 long days, our broody hen finally hatched her clutch of 9 eggs. Only 6 chicks are alive.

Two eggs didn't hatch, one was evidently not fertile, and the other was fully formed, but did not hatch. But most disturbing, was of the 7 live chicks that hatched, the hen killed one of them and ate the head. Why would she do this?

From the down, it appears the chick was killed soon after it hatched as it had not "fluffed" out. The rest of the body appears to be normal and defect free.

Does anyone have any idea why a hen would kill her chick?

 

[centrarchid]

First, did you witness her do it?

 

[cluckcluckluke]

First, did you witness her do it?

OHHHH! no evidence that the murder had even taken place does the hen in question plead guilty or innocent to the murder of the chick. Sorry fro my little court hearing, i'm not really sure why this would happen but my best guess is that the hen just didn't like the chick or thought it was weak, this happens in other species aswell.

 

[centrarchid]

Consuming head only is not something hens generally do. I have had lots of hens raise chicks and generally they do not consume heads of chicks they kill. Do you have lots of mice around?

 

[bwindell]

Have not seen any mice. I keep the feed in a large lidded trash can to eliminate pests as much as possible. The cage she and the chicks are in is made of hardware cloth, so no predators would have made it in. The chick was outside the nest, legs and body were in perfect shape, just the head was pecked/ate with one long string and a beak still intact. (Sorry for the graphic description). This was not something I expected to find and it really has me puzzled.

 

[arcy liger]

mice or rats do eat chicks (only the head brain and other parts)

 

[centrarchid]

Could be cannibalization. But set a mouse trap in pen at night with hen. Remove before lights on. I bet you will find mice are not respecting your hardwarecloth.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

It does sound much more likely a rodent did that. I've never had a hen eat a chick. Remember, just cause you didn't see it doesn't mean its not there .

 

[direwolf]

From what I understand, mice can fit through a hole the size of a pencil eraser.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Yeah, sort of depending on the size of the mouse, usually its a crack, they flatten out and squeese though 1/4 inch is enough. Small mice can be killed and eaten by chickens fortunately.