Hen killing chicks...

[kungfuchick]

Hi everyone! I posted previously about my broody hen sitting on chicken and guinea eggs. She is resolutely broody, but not a good mom at all! She's hatched 6 babies, 3 guineas and 3 chicks. I found most of their bodies on different days, near her, either deceased or in distress. I removed one live keet, that was similar age to our other chicks, and it survived (it is amazing how similar keets and americauna chicks look!). She is in the enclosed area with the chicks, and had another keet under her, for over 12 hours. Then she tossed it out and crushed its skull with one blow. We tried for hours to save it not knowing what exactly occurred, because it was still rather alert...but to no avail.
Please help me to understand this...it is all so traumatic for my young sons and myself.
Thank you.

Stacy

 

[teach1rusl]

Oh...that sounds nightmarish, and very traumatic!

I have no advice to offer other than don't use her for a broody in the future unless you're right there on hatching day to collect them and put them in a brooder. I guess, just like humans, there are a small percentage of animals of all types that simply don't make good mothers...

 

[FarmerMac]

That is terrible, is this her first gem hatching eggs? Or has she raised chicks in previous occasions?

 

[driftergal]

Hi everyone! I posted previously about my broody hen sitting on chicken and guinea eggs. She is resolutely broody, but not a good mom at all! She's hatched 6 babies, 3 guineas and 3 chicks. I found most of their bodies on different days, near her, either deceased or in distress. I removed one live keet, that was similar age to our other chicks, and it survived (it is amazing how similar keets and americauna chicks look!). She is in the enclosed area with the chicks, and had another keet under her, for over 12 hours. Then she tossed it out and crushed its skull with one blow. We tried for hours to save it not knowing what exactly occurred, because it was still rather alert...but to no avail. 
Please help me to understand this...it is all so traumatic for my young sons and myself.
Thank you.

Stacy

I feel your pain and trauma. This week was my first experience with my hens hatching eggs. Three little chicks pecked to death.