Should I take these chicks from the hen?

katelk

Songster
6 Years
Joined
May 6, 2013
Messages
412
Reaction score
16
Points
111
Location
White Bluff, TN
My broody was sitting on 10 eggs. 5 of them hatched so far and the hen has killed 2 of the chicks by crushing them. She is still sitting on the remaining 5 eggs, which I am hoping hatch out another chick or two.
I am worried she will leave those eggs to care for her 3 remaining chicks and not give the eggs enough chance.
I am now also worried about her killing more chicks.
Should I just take the 3 chicks to the brooder?

ADD: when I went to take the dead chicks from the nest the hen freaked out and stepped on (but did not hurt) one of the surviving 3 chicks. She seemed to be oblivious to trampling them and just wanted to sit on the eggs that are left. However, she has not seemed directly aggressive with them. If I do take them to the brooder, will she be upset or just keep sitting on the rest of the eggs?
 
Last edited:
It's hard to say what she will do, but I'm going to guess she will go back to sitting. usually the mama abandons the unhatched eggs a day or so after the first chicks hatch, in order to raise the chicks. However, it sounds like you have a "rogue brood" whose nstincts are too messed up to raise chicks, unfortunately.

I had a broody kill each chick, apparently as it hatched; I came in at the end of the process. She never got to set on eggs or raise chicks again.
 
It's hard to say what she will do, but I'm going to guess she will go back to sitting.  usually the mama abandons the unhatched eggs a day or so after the first chicks hatch, in order to raise the chicks.  However, it sounds like you have a "rogue brood" whose nstincts are too messed up to raise chicks, unfortunately.

I had a broody kill each chick, apparently as it hatched; I came in at the end of the process.  She never got to set on eggs or raise chicks again.


Thanks for the advice! I hate taking them from her, but I have been so worried about losing more! I just went and took the chicks and the hen could not have cared less. She did not budge from the remaining eggs. The chicks did some pretty heavy peeping but are now quieting down and eating.
Your post made me feel much better thank you!
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom