homocidal broody

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I have a BO broody who hatched out 3 chicks yesterday. She killed one and the other two are fine. She took the two chicks and abandoned the nest this morning with 11 eggs still in it. I candled them and stuck 5 in the incubator. Just checked and I heard peeping

Can't say why they do what they do, they just do

Congrats on your chicks - they are adorable!

 

[dancingbear]

I think sometimes a hen will kill a chick that's weak or has some defect. Other times I think the hen kills a chick because the hen is defective.

You're right though, who can say why, they just do it.

I just don't think that little brain (the size of a pea) is going through complicated psychological processes like humans. More likely just correct instincts vs. screwed up instincts.

Poor breeding practices probably have a lot to do with it.

 

[Kimblee]

Quote:
Sounds like some of my cousins.... Getting pregnant is good, having a tiny baby and everyone's attention is good...

Then they abandon the baby on a relative and go out to get knocked up again...

We have no broody ladies.... I want Silkies!

I doubt the motivation is anything like humans. I seriously doubt they have the capability of thinking through the whole process that much. I think it's much more likely a glitch in the DNA that causes the broody/mothering instincts to go haywire. Being broody is a hormone-induced trance state. It's not something a bird decides to do. It just happens. Then the mothering instinct is produced by a brain chemical called oxytocin. If the brain doesn't produce oxytocin, the bird (or whatever critter, including humans) will not feel motherly, and will not bond with the baby or babies.

Oh, I know that.

But the whole "Hatch it, then abandon it" just reminds me deeply of my family members.

(given the choice though, I'll take a homicidal chicken over a day with the cousins. At least the chicken can provide pleasent conversation.)

 

[austinhart123]

one of my sultans does that

and ive had other hens in the past with that problem

one of my hens would only do it to the eggs that werent hers, and the chicks that were hers she would let hatch

its really sad
but you did the right thing putting the urvivors in the bator

 

[Sillystunt]

All i can think about is the song...She's a manic, manic forsure......and she's eating eggs like she never has before~ OHHHHHH

 

[dancingbear]

I've started weeding out hens that do that. I don't want to hatch any eggs from them, I don't want to perpetuate bad genes, like faulty brooding instincts.

 

[cat]

Quote:

You crack me up! I have seen you post before and sometimes you say write exactly the thing I am thinking. I wish we lived closer because I think you are as nuts as me.... then again maybe its good that we are seperated by an ocean, I don't get into half as much trouble on my own as I could with a partner in crime