Mama hen rejects chick, we put in bator-what next?

[messianicmom]

Our Buff hen has been strongly broody since late Dec. She hatched her first egg last Sunday-a Buff. Today, another egg hatched and it's of another hen-a Buff (roo) and BArred(hen) mix. She seemed to have rejected it by heavily pecking at it's face and not even atttempting to cover it with her body and the temps. are in the 20's here. She just let it lie there.
So, being it was so cold, we brought it in to the incubator that's already incubating other eggs. It's tweeking loudly and moving around.

I know hens can act strangely, but why do think she acted that way?

Is there any way to reintroduce the chick to her soon or should we just take over from here for 8 weeks and then intro. into the rest of the flock and not worry about her?

If we take care of it, we'll have to set up a brooder for it, I know. But our preference is that it be raised by a hen.

Any suggestions? This is our first time for this. Her chick she hatched first is doing fine.

Thanks, Rachel

 

[easttxchick]

I'm not sure you can put the baby back with the hen-I've never had that happen before so I don't know if she just rejected it because something was wrong with it or what exactly she was thinking.
Poor baby. I think I'd set up a brooder for it to be on the safe side.
Maybe someone else that has had this happen can help you more.
Good luck.

 

[grandmaof5]

You can try putting it under her while she is sleeping, but you'd have to watch carefully when she wakes.