Momma Hen is Chasing away one Chick at 6 weeks

[LisaSuchy]

Hello, We had a momma hen hatch 2 babies (fertile eggs we purchased after she got broody). She is now chasing away one of the babies, not the other. This chicken appears to be a "rumpless" or maybe a turkey, see photo attached. Is this normal? She is getting very aggressive with just this one chick. Is that normal, or is it because of the baby?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That chick is a young rooster, so that's probably why she's chasing it, and definitely why it's slow to feather, it's possible the other one is a pullet.

 

[MillersFarm]

That chick is a young rooster, so that's probably why she's chasing it, and definitely why it's slow to feather, it's possible the other one is a pullet.

X2 that she is defiantly a he. But for the chasing part i'm not sure... a mother hen would not chase away and chick this young (Roo or hen) unless something was wrong with it.. Thats all i can think of.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

X2 that she is defiantly a he. But for the chasing part i'm not sure... a mother hen would not chase away and chick this young (Roo or hen) unless something was wrong with it.. Thats all i can think of.

6 weeks is not unusually young for her to be weaning a chick.

 

[MillersFarm]

6 weeks is not unusually young for her to be weaning a chick.

Yes that is true. when mother hens wean their chicks, they do not just do it to one.. They will chase away all of their chicks that try to stay close. @LisaSuchy Is this the first time your hen went broody and hatched a clutch? If so then shes probably confused on why this chick isnt growing as fast as the other and may think something is wrong with it.. Every first-time mothers have their faults.

 

[LisaSuchy]

Yes that is true. when mother hens wean their chicks, they do not just do it to one.. They will chase away all of their chicks that try to stay close. @LisaSuchy Is this the first time your hen went broody and hatched a clutch? If so then shes probably confused on why this chick isnt growing as fast as the other and may think something is wrong with it.. Every first-time mothers have their faults.

Yes, her first clutch, she went broody after a fox got into the coop, killed all her sisters, and took her. She magically didn't die and came back 3 days later with a broken wing and puncture wounds on her chest. Then went broody. We bought her eggs since it would be less stressful on her to just sit and rest, than to break her of the broodyness. She has been a great momma thus far. We also have another Hen -- a pocket chicken (OEGH) that is smaller than the babies, the black and white one seems to be the same size as the other baby (looks like it's a buff orphington), but REALLY heavy.

When I picked up the baby He/She seemed very warm. Thoughts?

 

[MillersFarm]

She might be going broody.. OEGB are known to go broody very often and i she might still be warm from sitting on some hidden clutch of eggs. Does she have any signs of broodiness

 

[rebrascora]

It is a bit unusual to cast one chick off before another but at 6 weeks it is about time and you may see eggs from her again soon, as they usually start laying again when they cast their chicks off. She may start chasing the other one off too, in the next day or so.

He is the chunkiest young cockerel I have ever seen! Would be interested to know what went into his breeding!
Do you have a plan for him?

 

[Top Rooster]

I think she chased him off before the other chick is because, he is hitting puberty roosters hit puberty before hens, now if you don't know roosters will fight till their at the top of the pecking order, she most likely weaned him earlier to say that she would always be above him, kind of like she's showing him her power and to not test it.

 

[chickens really]

It's normal behaviour .....That Chick might be a bit more demanding and she is weaning it...Possibly she will start laying eggs again any day....