Why would a hen attack her own chicks?

[birdlover]

Yeah, they "unbroodify" overnight and it ain't purty! (I like that word you invented! LOL)

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

No, why?! (I dont have any children)

Yeah, I couldnt think of any other way to put it..... but 'unbroodify' works!

 

[birdlover]

Nah, I doubt they would take the babies now. They're too old and I doubt the babies would accept the broodies unless they did like mine did and deliberately stalk them for their own.

 

[Poohbear]

Just like all other animals (including two legged ones), there is good mothers and bad mothers. I use pullets as surrogate mothers to hatch their first nest of chicks. If they are bad mothers, then they are disignated layers or meat chickens. I have had some hens that would chase and kill other hens chicks. they are soon removed to a stewpot. The good mother hens are the ones I use to hatch my best purebreeds. One hen just died from old age this year at 17 years old. She was retired 8 years ago and was one of the best mother hens on the yard. She would try to take other hens chicks and raise them if she didn't have any so I had to keep using her as a surrogate until she was too stiff to set out a nest. She would raise chicks until they were as tall as she was before she let them go. When a hen starts fighting her own chicks, she wants them to be weaned.

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

Quote:
Thank you!

Thats what I was beginning to believe. This was her first brood, and I think will be both her and my last!

 

[FrChuckW]

Like the others have already said, she got tired of being a mom, especially if she is already laying again. I just got a young silkie pullet and she is already taking care of my 7 standard size pullets that are as big as her, she defends them from the OEGB roo and his two hens, and the two Mille Fluer hens. It is quite funny to watch her, call them over to feed with her when I go out and feed them and watch her turn around all of a sudden and face down the older birds so "her" babies can eat.

 

[birdlover]

That's sooo cute!!!!!

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

Quote:
I have heard so many stories about super broody silkies, and what great moms they are! Cracks me up to picture these puffy fluff balls being so defensive!

 

[Hoot]

I've had to flog my kids a few times over the years.

 

[enola]