Hen killed her own 7 week old chicks!!

[Diana1987_1]

Around 40 minutes ago I heard my chicks screaming from outside. I went to go see and to my horror, found my hen pecking her chicks to death. One was dead while another was dying. The hen stopped pecking them. She killed 2 of her chicks and I have no ideas why. I moved her and her chicks to another coop today and I dont know if that is what caused the incedent. If any one has any ideaa to why this happened please tell me! I want to prevent this from happening again ;(

 

[Gramma Chick]

Around 40 minutes ago I heard my chicks screaming from outside. I went to go see and to my horror, found my hen pecking her chicks to death. One was dead while another was dying. The hen stopped pecking them. She killed 2 of her chicks and I have no ideas why. I moved her and her chicks to another coop today and I dont know if that is what caused the incedent. If any one has any ideaa to why this happened please tell me! I want to prevent this from happening again ;(

Oh NO ! That is sad ..Was she a new mom ? Sometimes new moms dont know what is going on .
Were the chicks a different color ? I had a hen who only had black chicks and I added white chicks she did nt hatch ..and she would NOT accept them . .Pecked them so I had to raise them myself

 

[ChickNanny13]

It's possible the move may have been a stress factor but no clue. At 7wks the chicks are old enough to be on their own. You may want to consider leaving any remaining chicks in the new enclosure, moving the hen back to the flock or another enclosure.

Sorry to hear about your losses....

 

[Diana1987_1]

Oh NO ! That is sad ..Was she a new mom ? Sometimes new moms dont know what is going on .
Were the chicks a different color ? I had a hen who only had black chicks and I added white chicks she did nt hatch ..and she would NOT accept them . .Pecked them so I had to raise them myself

31q

She was a new mom but she took take of the chicks very well before this. She had yellow and black chicks and she killed one of each. This also happened during the night so I dont think it was because of the color of the chicks.

 

[Diana1987_1]

It's possible the move may have been a stress factor but no clue. At 7wks the chicks are old enough to be on their own. You may want to consider leaving any remaining chicks in the new enclosure, moving the hen back to the flock or another enclosure.

Sorry to hear about your losses....

i am thinking of doing that. Thankyou

 

[sourland]

Sound as if she has started the process of weaning them. Moving to the new coop very likely was a factor. Separate her from the chicks. They no longer need her.