Will hens eat their chicks

[friedchickn]

My friend had a hen hatch about 7 eggs and then she ate the chicks. Do hens usually do that? The rooster has done it before but the hens have never. He put the rooster in a cage when they were hatching.

 

[Catfish267]

I have never heard of that. Are you sure it wasn't any other type of animal?

 

[friedchickn]

I'm not sure my friend said when he checked on them the eggs were hatched and there were no chicks but he has the 1/4 inch square chicken wire on the bottom.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Some hens just aren't fit to be mommas, and will kill and eat their chicks. Its not normal, but can happen. I've had quite a few broodies and only had it happen once. When the chicks started hatching, she freaked. I kept checking under her, expecting chicks and there were none. So I sat and watched, and when one hatched she immediately killed and ate the chick and the shell it came out of. She went into the stew pot...
Nikki

 

[friedchickn]

Lol ... will hens eat other hens chicks?