Sad day in small chick land

[minus10gmt]

Our Cuckoo Marans was broody and I let her do her thing. In the meantime a couple of other hens slipped eggs under her. When I realized it 3 days later I marked the eggs and then moved her to a separate location. She hatched 2 of 6, then a few days later, another chick hatched - big and healthy, but I found it dead. I snatched up the remaining three eggs, one of which was pipping, and put them in the incubator. One hatched and when it was dry, I slipped it under mama in the evening hours. She scooted it under her and we thought all would be well. In the morning we discovered a massacre. Don’t know what happened but it seems this chick was culled by mom. Maybe the other was, too. What did I do wrong? Don’t they normally accept them? The two that died were yellow. The two she already had are black. Could she have done this because they looked different?

 

[sourland]

Most hens imprint on their chicks within 24 to 36 hours after they hatch. This is why staggered hatches can be disastrous. The color difference was very likely another factor. She regarded them as 'strangers'. No fault on your part - just part of the learning process.

 

[orloffer]

Sometimes a hen doesn't like to take in more chicks after the ones she knows as "hers" have already hatched. She also could have killed them because they looked different and she didn't recognize them as her own chicks.

 

[That_australian_lad]

sorry for your loss

 

[Jeanw]

I’m sorry

 

[Starburst]

I’m so sorry for your loss.

 

[minus10gmt]

Thank you so much everyone. I now understand how bad a staggered hatch can turn out. Never thought mama hen would reject the new ones but I was so wrong. Live and learn. Thank you for the kind thoughts and helpful info. We can get pretty invested in these little ones!