Need advice, please! - mama hen killed her hatchling

[lkm24]

Disgusting but true. Chick had just hatched, and I think the hen thought it was an intruder. Has anyone else had this problem? Didn't find similar posts in a quick scan.

She's still sitting on the remaining 4 eggs. Probably they're not fertile. But.... what should I do? I have four other broodies (of 12 hens - way too many!) so I could try substituting one of them to sit on the eggs in the hopes that they wouldn't prove to be homicidal moms. Or should I just stick with this hen?

 

[Chickenaddict]

If the hen killed the chick it could mean either there was something wrong with the chick so she put it out of its mysery or she is just not mothering material. Wait it out and see what she does with the next chick if one hatches, if she goes after it then i would try a different hen.

ETA this has happened to me twice before but it was because i tried to put a chick from another brood under a hen who knew it wasn't hers