Please help. Broody hen attacked chick

[Chezwilli]

Chicks that hatched seem to be doing okay, the second one is very lively, the injured one not so much, but has been tottering about and drinking water occasionally through the night, had to separate from the other chick as it kept curiously pecking at the injured chicks head wound.

 

[Chezwilli]

By the way broody hen is still sitting, even though I removed the eggs

 

[Matilda Belle]

You may want to get some bluekote to put on that chick so the others leave it alone and don’t injure it more.

 

[centrarchid]

There are essential details in terms of how a broody hen bonds with chicks that have not even started to be addressed in this thread. @Chezwilli you introduced chicks too early in the hens incubation cycle before she is ready to bond with chicks.

 

[Chezwilli]

@centrarchid I did not introduce the chicks to the hen, she has sat on them for 21 days.

 

[Chezwilli]

You may want to get some bluekote to put on that chick so the others leave it alone and don’t injure it more.

Thought about that but it's the wound is around the top of her eye. Is that safe?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Not every broody hen will do that. We had four hens go broody a year or so ago and all made wonderful mothers.

 

[centrarchid]

@centrarchid I did not introduce the chicks to the hen, she has sat on them for 21 days.

Instinct says do not mess with this mess

 

[Chezwilli]

What a bummer your broody is not so motherly! Please post an update when you get a chance. I'm curious as to whether her broodiness will break, if you decide to separate the rest of the hatching chicks

Just thought I’d let you know. The broodiness broke after 3 days, she’s now back mixing with the rest of the flock.

 

[Chezwilli]

Thanks to everyone who left helpful comments. Just a quick update on the outcome. 5 out of 6 have hatched (3 in quick makeshift bottle incubators)...although over 4 days. 2 needed assistance after 36 hours having peeped but failed to unzip, one peeped at pointy end and one in the middle of the egg. All doing fine now