- Jun 27, 2012
- 1
- 0
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Hi there.
Just today, our mother hen has been acting extremely unusual. All of a sudden she runs around with her feathers fluffed, makes constant displeased noises, and pecks viciously at her only chick. My mother and I have read that the pecking may just be encouraging the baby to get under her, but she doesn't lower herself to the ground or make the motherly noises she should. She's constantly scratching at everything, and we've been saying it's like she's having a nervous breakdown and is taking it out on her chick. Also, she gets angry with us when we take away her chick and won't leave us alone, but when we give it back to her, she pecks its face, back, and head.
Why is she doing this and what is she trying to achieve?
We only have this one chick at the moment, so we really don't want to take it away from her and raise it on its own with us.
What should we do?? Will she actually injure the chick??
Just today, our mother hen has been acting extremely unusual. All of a sudden she runs around with her feathers fluffed, makes constant displeased noises, and pecks viciously at her only chick. My mother and I have read that the pecking may just be encouraging the baby to get under her, but she doesn't lower herself to the ground or make the motherly noises she should. She's constantly scratching at everything, and we've been saying it's like she's having a nervous breakdown and is taking it out on her chick. Also, she gets angry with us when we take away her chick and won't leave us alone, but when we give it back to her, she pecks its face, back, and head.
Why is she doing this and what is she trying to achieve?
We only have this one chick at the moment, so we really don't want to take it away from her and raise it on its own with us.
What should we do?? Will she actually injure the chick??
