Hen raising chicks

[whitneyfarm]

So I had 2 hens hatch out chicks and 1 still sitting. The other hens "steal" the nest of the still sitting one causing the mother to be to peck at the chicks. Also one of my mothers is pecking at the other mother chicks. Is this a normal behavior? I have lost 4 chicks now and I have 1 injured. Help!!

 

[sourland]

Normal behavior - hens defend their own. Fix things so that the chicks can not access the setting hen and your losses will cease.

 

[whitneyfarm]

But one of the mommas is pecking too

 

[sourland]

Some hens are very defensive of their chicks and will kill any others that try to approach. These are the sort of hens that I remove from the flock after one brood. I also get rid of any of their offspring as this can be a genetically transmitted trait. Again, separating the broods will eliminate chick death.

 

[tearooster]

I'm so sorry to hear about your lost chicks

Sometimes my broody hens will switch nesting boxes while their is babies in one. It's just how the mother reacts... What I would do is isolate the one that is getting picked on : )