Hen killed her own chicks.....why??

[joebryant]

Quote:
Before you get rid of her, you might let her go broody again and put some wooden eggs under her and some real eggs in the incubator. Early in the morning, when it's still dark, remove the wooden eggs and put the newly hatched-in-the-incubator chicks under her. Watch her, but I'd bet she takes to the fully hatched chicks and takes care of them. Maybe next time she sets and hatches a couple of eggs, she'lll know that the little wet ones will be chicks.

 

[Biddieacres]

I have a feeling that once she does that, she will always do that. You sure are kind to give her another chance though. I would be way too nervous.

Just reminds me of once a hen who tastes blood will always pick on the weakest and go for blood.

 

[SoccerMomof7]

I am so sorry, I don't know how I could handle it.

 

[cassie]

Not every female, of whatever species, is meant to be a mother. I'd do the same thing to her that I used to do with my rabbits that killed their babies. Put her in the pot. It sounds like you have given her more than one chance. Eat her!! I mean really, what good is she? She is a menace to her own and other's chicks. Her eggs aren't that valuable.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I know this will sound weird,

but maybe she's defending them against themselves.

She may see them as a threat to her babies, but they ARE her babies....

 

[vermontgal]

Sounds to me like natural selection - she is selecting against her own genes. She is not a good parent, and she "knows" those chicks won't be good parents either?

 

[StrawberryHouseMouse]

Someone else mentioned something important. Not every breed is right for raising chicks. As odd as that may sound its true. Polish birds do not make good mothers. Usually you take a polish's eggs and either incubate them or put them under another hen. They just don't make good mothers.

I don't know what kind of chicken your dealing with here but it's possible this is the same sort of situation.

 

[Littlecimarron18]

I had a chicken do this last year just when they were hatching would she go after them after that i could put live ones and she would be fine

 

[chickenzoo]

Perhaps she may need more calcium? Perhaps when she "helps" them out of the shell by eating the egg she does so too aggressively? Strange....

 

[Littlecimarron18]

my hen got scared every time they would start pipping and then attack, but after they were out shw was fine with them