I gave broody hen chicks; couple questions on care

[NorthwoodsChick]

Update. At noon, as I watched on the coop cam, momma aggressively attacked the chicks. It was violent. They are all dead. Why? They were healthy and thriving. I am broken and not sure what to do. Will she attack her flock-mates that are low in pecking order?

 

[Mrs. K]

Wow, I am so sorry. I have never had that happen. I figure it was a go. How very strange.

However, not all animals are good mothers. We raise cattle, and some girls are like to lick the hair off of a calf, and others give them a lick and promise and leave and that calf either keeps up or is done... most do keep up.

I did not expect this post from you. Dang it.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Wow, I am so sorry. I have never had that happen. I figure it was a go. How very strange.

However, not all animals are good mothers. We raise cattle, and some girls are like to lick the hair off of a calf, and others give them a lick and promise and leave and that calf either keeps up or is done... most do keep up.

I did not expect this post from you. Dang it.

Truly, I believed they were a go, also. I am shocked. I put her on the roost at dusk, she attacked a lower rank hen on the roost and then she immediately went to a new nest. She’s in a crate— broody jail, again.
I hope she doesn’t remain a psycho-attacking flock mates now.

 

[aart]

Update. At noon, as I watched on the coop cam, momma aggressively attacked the chicks. It was violent. They are all dead. Why? They were healthy and thriving. I am broken and not sure what to do.

Dang!! What a shocker to see it on cam.

Will she attack her flock-mates that are low in pecking order?

I doubt it, she is used to them, the chicks were something new.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Dang!! What a shocker to see it on cam.


I doubt it, she is used to them, the chicks were something new.

Thanks, it was hard to watch. Even if I had been home I couldn’t have saved them, it was over in 2 minutes.

 

[K0k0shka]

Wow, that was quite the plot twist! I'm so sorry to hear that. Chickens are crazy and can be unpredictable... Who knows what went through her microbrain. Jail her away from the flock if you can, if she's attacking flockmates. Somewhere out of sight of them, for a week if you can, so they put her in her place when she comes back. And, of course, don't let her brood again.

 

[Mrs. K]

Really any more problems with her, and she would be gone from my flock. Ugh! Not always is it a rooster that has ugly behavior. (Which is what I have now)

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Really any more problems with her, and she would be gone from my flock. Ugh! Not always is it a rooster that has ugly behavior. (Which is what I have now)

I considered that possibility. I jailed her. Let her out and put her outside with the flock and gave some scratch grain. She acted like a normal nonbroody girl. I put her back in broody jail after an hour of yard time. 1-2 more days and maybe she’ll break

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Wow, that was quite the plot twist! I'm so sorry to hear that. Chickens are crazy and can be unpredictable... Who knows what went through her microbrain. Jail her away from the flock if you can, if she's attacking flockmates. Somewhere out of sight of them, for a week if you can, so they put her in her place when she comes back. And, of course, don't let her brood again.

I can’t help but think there was a perceived threat outside the coop. I have a very heavy predator load and its rearing season for coyote, raptors and so on. I’ve read that hens will kill the lot if she feels the whole brood is in grave danger.
I’m looking at it as an act of mercy in her mind and she just couldn’t grasp that they were secure in their space. I can sleep at night with that rationale rather than just her being a bad mother.