My broody hen is killing its new hatched chicks

[soxirella]

I have a chicken run with four egg laying hens. Earlier I used to collect the eggs everyday, but last month, I let it remain. One of the hens sat on the eggs for the most part, and the others did some time too. It started sitting on about 15, but I last counted 35 eggs, as the others continue to lay in that same place. I then provided another nesting box.

This morning I noticed a couple of chicks had hatched but were dead and bloody. The dead chicks were next to the egg with peck marks on their head. There was a third weak one that I have now put in my incubator as a makeshift brooder. An hour back I noticed another one had just hatched, when the hen had left for a drink. It was completely healthy, chirping, and moved to the back of the eggs. Even the hen made itself as wide as possible and sat on the new chick and other eggs.

When I checked some time back, I noticed not only did another chick hatch, but both of these had bloody heads and were much weaker. I moved them to the incubator as well.

I really wanted my hen to raise the chicks, but it seems to be so violent against these chicks. What could be happening? Should I just move all chicks as soon as they are hatched?

I am fairly certain the other hens and chickens are not hurting the new chicks as I have seen the broody hen defend its nesting box well in the past.

 

[Cheekychook12]

I have a chicken run with four egg laying hens. Earlier I used to collect the eggs everyday, but last month, I let it remain. One of the hens sat on the eggs for the most part, and the others did some time too. It started sitting on about 15, but I last counted 35 eggs, as the others continue to lay in that same place. I then provided another nesting box.

This morning I noticed a couple of chicks had hatched but were dead and bloody. The dead chicks were next to the egg with peck marks on their head. There was a third weak one that I have now put in my incubator as a makeshift brooder. An hour back I noticed another one had just hatched, when the hen had left for a drink. It was completely healthy, chirping, and moved to the back of the eggs. Even the hen made itself as wide as possible and sat on the new chick and other eggs.

When I checked some time back, I noticed not only did another chick hatch, but both of these had bloody heads and were much weaker. I moved them to the incubator as well.

I really wanted my hen to raise the chicks, but it seems to be so violent against these chicks. What could be happening? Should I just move all chicks as soon as they are hatched?

I am fairly certain the other hens and chickens are not hurting the new chicks as I have seen the broody hen defend its nesting box well in the past.

I would take them away from her, if she’s killed some there’s risk she’ll kill the rest

 

[Cheekychook12]

I have a chicken run with four egg laying hens. Earlier I used to collect the eggs everyday, but last month, I let it remain. One of the hens sat on the eggs for the most part, and the others did some time too. It started sitting on about 15, but I last counted 35 eggs, as the others continue to lay in that same place. I then provided another nesting box.

This morning I noticed a couple of chicks had hatched but were dead and bloody. The dead chicks were next to the egg with peck marks on their head. There was a third weak one that I have now put in my incubator as a makeshift brooder. An hour back I noticed another one had just hatched, when the hen had left for a drink. It was completely healthy, chirping, and moved to the back of the eggs. Even the hen made itself as wide as possible and sat on the new chick and other eggs.

When I checked some time back, I noticed not only did another chick hatch, but both of these had bloody heads and were much weaker. I moved them to the incubator as well.

I really wanted my hen to raise the chicks, but it seems to be so violent against these chicks. What could be happening? Should I just move all chicks as soon as they are hatched?

I am fairly certain the other hens and chickens are not hurting the new chicks as I have seen the broody hen defend its nesting box well in the past.

Sometimes hens reject the chicks, is this her first time hatching chicks?

 

[BDutch]

In natural circumstances a hens searches a solitary spot to lay and hatch her eggs. Originally chickens laid way less eggs. Maybe about 30 eggs a year. The egg laying evolved from there. Who knows what happed with the mindset of the hens. Some breeds and some individuals have/are better mothers/caretakers than others. You see this in all species, even with humans.

My thoughts:
If you keep chickens who have evolved into laying machines in an unnatural setting, you need to control the breeding process a bit.
Normally the hen leaves the nest with the chicks that hatched early, a few days after the first hatch and she leaves the unhatched eggs behind to die. Having so many unhatched eggs , the chicks may have made her nuts. Maybe she choose to stay on the eggs that still need to hatch and tried to ‘educate’ / harassed the chicks to stay calm.

Best intervene at this point.
Maybe it does work for her if you give her 2 chicks and take away all the eggs. Watch it closely. Put the eggs in an incubator if you have one.
Or:
Put the all the chicks in a brooder asap.

Next time:
Let another hen sit.
Use fake eggs.
Make sure you mark the hatching or first eggs. Max 7 for bantams up to max 12 eggs with large hens. Take away all eggs that her sisters added to the nest.
It makes the pile too big and causes a staggered hatch.

 

[soxirella]

It's her first time sitting. Right now she doesn't have any chicks to look over. I will keep an eye and take away new born chicks as soon as possible. Perhaps I'll let her keep the last 3-4 chicks.

 

[soxirella]

In the gap it took to make this post, it has killed another. I have removed all the eggs from around it. It is still sitting on some. Will try to get them when she leaves for food.

 

[NewcoopNewpoop]

If I knew I was going to have 35 kids (some that werent mine) I'd be stressed as hell. How big is your run?

 

[soxirella]

It's about 60 sqmt. They also get 2-3 hours of forage time in my lawn every evening.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

This must have been very stressful, I'm sorry for your losses. When you think your hen is going broody, take all eggs away from her. If she stays on the nest for three nights you may consider her "comitted" and generally safe to trust her with a clutch of eggs. Mark the eggs you want to give her with a Sharpie and put them under her. Daily remove all other eggs other hens may lay in her nest. When the eggs begin to hatch, observe her carefully. If you see aggressive behavior from her toward the chicks, remove chicks and eggs from her and finish hatching in an incubator. Do not give her eggs to hatch again. She is not a good mother.