Five of my bantams (three silkies, two cochin mutts) went broody and sat on a dozen eggs last month. Only four of the eggs hatched, and they were all under one of the Mamas. The other four hens started hurting each other, fighting over the babies, so I got a handful of assorted bantam chicks from the local feedstore and they took them in right away. They were totally happy with their 'adopted' chickies for about a week, and then I started to think something was up.
I found one of the baby cochins dead when I fed them in the morning and its head was pecked bald and swolen and red. I IMEDIATLY took the hen out who was acting grumpy so she wouldn't hurt anyone else and everything was fine for a few days. And THEN I found one of the little black chicks with a completely bald back with a huge bleeding open wound, almost down to the bone. I was honestly surprised she was still alive, and I took her in and took care of her right away. Once she was settled I brought all the other babies into the house and hooked up a heatlight for them, then let all of the broody mamas back out into the yard. They all seemed totally fine to not have their babies.
The one with the bad injury didn't end up making it, but everyone else is okay. I'm just wondering if anyone knows what made the Mamas suddenly go bonkers! Were they just done being mamas? I know my mother rabbit gets ****** with her babies after eight weeks. Or was it something to do with the chicks not actually being their babies? I honestly don't know and would love another opinion.
I found one of the baby cochins dead when I fed them in the morning and its head was pecked bald and swolen and red. I IMEDIATLY took the hen out who was acting grumpy so she wouldn't hurt anyone else and everything was fine for a few days. And THEN I found one of the little black chicks with a completely bald back with a huge bleeding open wound, almost down to the bone. I was honestly surprised she was still alive, and I took her in and took care of her right away. Once she was settled I brought all the other babies into the house and hooked up a heatlight for them, then let all of the broody mamas back out into the yard. They all seemed totally fine to not have their babies.
The one with the bad injury didn't end up making it, but everyone else is okay. I'm just wondering if anyone knows what made the Mamas suddenly go bonkers! Were they just done being mamas? I know my mother rabbit gets ****** with her babies after eight weeks. Or was it something to do with the chicks not actually being their babies? I honestly don't know and would love another opinion.
