My hen pecked all the shell off an egg. The chicks beak is out and it is peeping. What should i do? Why would momma hen do this?

[MagicalUnicorn]

I have the "egg" wrapped in damp paper towels and in the incubator at 37.5 C.

 

[the_peanut_coop]

I have the "egg" wrapped in damp paper towels and in the incubator at 37.5 C.

Sometimes momma hens assist with hatching. Were you planning to have a chick or did you just find out?

 

[MagicalUnicorn]

Sometimes momma hens assist with hatching. Were you planning to have a chick or did you just find out?

Planning on having the chick. We have been finding dead chicks under momma hen. We have a hen with one chick already. But have found 5 mostly developed dead chicks with no shells.

 

[the_peanut_coop]

Planning on having the chick. We have been finding dead chicks under momma hen. We have a hen with one chick already. But have found 5 mostly developed dead chicks with no shells.

That does not sounds like an assisted hatch at all. I've never heard of a hen eating live chick eggs, but I have heard of roosters doing this.

 

[MagicalUnicorn]

That does not sounds like an assisted hatch at all. I've never heard of a hen eating live chick eggs, but I have heard of roosters doing this.

I wonder if at night my rooster is wreaking havoc then. Maybe my other half has a game cam I can borrow for the coop for a bit to see what is going on.

 

[the_peanut_coop]

I wonder if at night my rooster is wreaking havoc then. Maybe my other half has a game cam I can borrow for the coop for a bit to see what is going on.

How protective is the momma hen?

 

[MagicalUnicorn]

How protective is the momma hen?

Very. Very Very. She pecks me when I go out to check. And took on the turkey hen the other day.

 

[the_peanut_coop]

Does the mother have any evidence of eggs on her mouth?
Does the rooster?

 

[MagicalUnicorn]

Does the mother have any evidence of eggs on her mouth?
Does the rooster?

No. Just a few scraps of shells in the nest box and the squished flat baby chick.

 

[MagicalUnicorn]

No. Just a few scraps of shells in the nest box and the squished flat baby chick.

Planning on having the chick. We have been finding dead chicks under momma hen. We have a hen with one chick already. But have found 5 mostly developed dead chicks with no shells.