Put chicks back with peckish hen?

[hlee7896]

Hi all, new here. I let my button quail hen sit on 8 eggs and although there is a male in there with her, they are young and I didn't really think they'd be fertile.

Well, I got home today and there was a chick! He had apparently pecked his way out of the egg, and the hen pecked his head in. Is this typical? I saw her doing it, so I know it was her and not the male.

I saw two more eggs cracked so I removed all of them and put them under my reptile lamps for now because I don't know what to do with them. It is a UV light and a heat lamp keeping the spot around 100 degrees. One has hatched out and the other is working on it. I plan on offering them water and mash, but should I try putting them back with the hen? I am not sure why she pecked the first one.

Thanks!

 

[sourland]

If you return them to the hen, monitor the situation very closely. It is likely that she will injure and not mother them.

 

[hlee7896]

If you return them to the hen, monitor the situation very closely. It is likely that she will injure and not mother them.

Thanks for the reply. I have kept them separate. I just can't figure out why she sat so good and then did that when the first one hatched. They seem to be doing ok on Day 2, they are accepting water and a little mash mixed with mostly water in a dropper. They still seem really weak, but I guess they are less than 24 hours old.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

I wouldn’t trust her, good luck!