Momma chicken attack

[Maryeb]

We had a momma chicken lay eggs in our yard. 8 weeks later momma is attacking 1 chick. I went out this morning and baby is bleeding from the head and left leg. What should I do?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Can you remove that chick (I would take a second as company for it too) and raise it in a brooder?

Sometimes they do reject a chick or even the whole batch.

 

[Maryeb]

I dont have a brooder yet. We only have the 1 momma and her 4 chicks. They are about 8 wks old now. It is only the 1 she attacks but all of them are afraid of her. I've read about the pecking order but I'm not sure this is the problem.

 

[21hens-incharge]

If they are 8 weeks old she is "weaning" them as they no longer require her care. It is a natural process even though it can be brutal.

Think of it as fledging.

 

[Maryeb]

But to peck them til they bleed and have no feathers on head? Hope this doesnt sound bad, I've never raised chicks before so this is all new.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Yes...they can even kill them if they don't leave when told.

The chick is old enough to not need added heat so you could still remove it to keep it safe and just have it in a small coop and run.
I would take at least one additional since they are flock animals and actually need flock mates.

Yup weird to see the mom be so brutal but it dies happen.

I don't know why I missed in the first post that they are 8 weeks old. I will blame it on not enough coffee.

 

[Maryeb]

Ok. Right now i just have the chick in the closed coop w water n food. She has a good size wound on her thigh. Would you recommend oregano oil for wound?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would clean it with betadine or hibiclense (probably spelled that wrong) then keep it slathered up with antibiotic ointment that does NOT contain a pain reliever.

 

[Maryeb]

Ok. Thank you so much. I was actually thinking of releasing momma out of the run. I will look in my 1st aid kit and see what I have.

 

[Maryeb]

Quick update. Momma killed a different chick then the one she attacked yesterday. We just opened the run and let momma out. The 1st chick is doing good.