My Leghorn just killed her 1st egg that hatched in her 2nd Brood????

[cjatthefarm]

Well...I need some advice. The chick the hen injured has a broken back. Her little legs are useless. It would have been better if she had pecked this one in the head as she did the other. Kinder, anyway.

So, I really don't think allowing this chick to die slowly starving is fair or kind. Please tell me what you would do............,

 

[cjatthefarm]

Quote:
I'm sorry this is happening to you. I am new (October 2010) to chickens. I knew they were prone to kill or go after an injured chicken; but I wasn't expecting mothers to kill their babies. One of my other hens, and EE is happily raising 3 beautiful babies!! So, all is not lost!!

I will not let this hen set any more eggs unless I have the time to raise them myself. And right now, it will have to wait until we have more room in the coop and the run.

Best to you. May you soon have a good broody that will LOVE her babies!

 

[Gypsy07]

Quote:
Cut its head off with a SHARP pair of scissors. Quickest and kindest for the chick.

 

[cjatthefarm]

Thank You Gypsy07. I lost my nerve. The chick died sometime that night.......I pray it was not too painful.....but I suspect it was.....

I appreciate your answer, however, it's information I will store away......

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
Cut its head off with a SHARP pair of scissors. Quickest and kindest for the chick.

Yeah, that is what I do with chicks that are suffering beyond what I feel is acceptable.

As for color discrimination. My hens have been caught doing the same thing. Had an EE hen leave the flock she grew up with and move over into a rooster holding pen to live with an EE rooster which I was growing out to eat. Only reason I could fathom her leaving was because of that rooster, she wasn't even at the bottom of the pecking order or anything.

For the most part, when I have large groups of birds, they tend to hang out with "littermates" and then "color like" groups if there are enough of them.