New Mother Only Pecks One Breed of Chick

[nlugten]

Any advice is welcome. This is our first time having a broody hen raise chicks, and it is her first brood as well. There are 4, day old chicks shipped to us. 2 Austrawhite mixes (yellow), and four Olive Eggers (mostly black) She's been sitting on 4 fake eggs for about 2.5 weeks and the chicks arrived yesterday. We tried once, and she clearly rejected them, and so I tried again after dark. All four chicks made it through the night. Now that the chicks are coming out to eat, she will let the black Olive Eggers come near her, peck at her, and go under her no problem. A truly light peck once in awhile to nudge them in the right direction. On the other hand, she has been not as nice to the yellow Austras. Pecks at them nearly every time they get close enough. They chirp and run away, so I do think it's a rejection peck. I've seen them scurry around behind her and doesn't kick them out once they do finally get under her.

Is there any chance she comes around to them just leaving them in the brooder with her? Any chance trying to put them under her again tonight will work? Or should we raise them ourselves and just integrate when they're older? Thanks so much in advance!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

I've seen this happen and the hen still lets the chicks go under her. I would just check on them often the first couple of days to be sure they're able to get food and water like the other ones.

If she keeps this up, then I'd pull those and raise them myself but that's never happened where I had to pull chicks for being shunned.

You could have her in the coop though with the other chickens and she would become very defensive of them. Anytime our hens had chicks, they had them in the coop. The rooster usually helps her. The other hens learn very fast to stay away.

 

[nlugten]

Hi,

I've seen this happen and the hen still lets the chicks go under her. I would just check on them often the first couple of days to be sure they're able to get food and water like the other ones.

If she keeps this up, then I'd pull those and raise them myself but that's never happened where I had to pull chicks for being shunned.

You could have her in the coop though with the other chickens and she would become very defensive of them. Anytime our hens had chicks, they had them in the coop. The rooster usually helps her. The other hens learn very fast to stay away.

Thank you! The little Austras were huddled together away from mom and I put them back under her. Since then, she's been much nicer to them. Thank you for the reassurance, and I will continue to keep a close eye on them. The brooder is a fenced off portion of the coop, where everyone can see mom and her babies, which I'm hoping will have similar benefits as having them out and about!