Hen stealing new chicks

[aesch]

Hello and thank you in advance for any answers you can give me. I have a hen who is hatching eggs today and one of the other hens is trying to steal the new chicks. She has gone so far as to roll an egg out of the nest and tucked it under her. I found 2 dead chicks that were apparently suffocated. There are three nesting boxes but I'm thinking I should relocate the new mama to a quiet corner in the garage. She has two more eggs to go. Also, the other hen has her own week old chicks so I don't understand why she wants these. Thanks again. Anne

 

[BirdGirl2004]

LOL! That is so funny ( not the dead chicks, the "helicopter mom")
And yes, good plan!! I would make a cozy little nook for your mama!
Good luck!

 

[aart]

Hello and thank you in advance for any answers you can give me. I have a hen who is hatching eggs today and one of the other hens is trying to steal the new chicks. She has gone so far as to roll an egg out of the nest and tucked it under her. I found 2 dead chicks that were apparently suffocated. There are three nesting boxes but I'm thinking I should relocate the new mama to a quiet corner in the garage. She has two more eggs to go. Also, the other hen has her own week old chicks so I don't understand why she wants these. Thanks again. Anne

Not uncommon when 2 broodies are sharing a space.
I would move the hen with chicks somewhere away from broody now hatching.
Or put up a barrier to keep any other birds from disturbing the broody now hatching.
Moving a broody with eggs hatching now could be disastrous.

 

[aesch]

Not uncommon when 2 broodies are sharing a space.
I would move the hen with chicks somewhere away from broody now hatching.
Or put up a barrier to keep any other birds from disturbing the broody now hatching.
Moving a broody with eggs hatching now could be disastrous.

I ended up moving her and the chicks, and the chick still trying to break out of the egg. I think I would've lost them if I hadn't and as it turns out, a good thing. She's happy, the chicks are healthy, and they're safe. So, disaster avoided and lesson learned, and now I know I need to upgrade or rebuild my coop.