Hen Killing Newly Hatched Chicks

[greenfamilyfarms]

One of our Buff Orpington broody hens is killing newly hatched chicks. This is her 2nd time doing this - the first time I just thought she made a mistake since she was a new mama. This time is not a mistake. As soon as chicks hatch (still wet) she kills them. If given fluffy, dry chicks, she does fine. What causes this? Is there any real solution to this besides taking the eggs from her a few days before the hatch and putting them in an incubator then giving them back?

 

[Southernchickens]

My muscovy ducks did the same thing with their ducklings, they killed about 5 babies before they stopped. I also have no idea why.

 

[sourland]

When the eggs are ready to hatch darken her broody area completely so that she can not see the chicks. That way they will get to dry off and be accepted.