Why does a adult hen attack young hens?

Answer 1

Either -

• They are bad mothers, and don't know how to raise young.
• The hens are starving and need to eat.
• The hens sense that the chick is weak/deformed.

Answer 2

they only attack their young when someone or something touches it as it has it's scent on the baby chick. other times is when the mom can see that the baby chick is weaker than the rest of the babies and then kills it.

It is sad but true

Answer 3

There are two reasons they will attack the chicks. The first is food. They see the chick as a possible source of food and hens among the flock will kill and eat a chick if they are able. Some breeds are more aggressive than others.

The most common reason is the older hens are dispensing the "pecking order" this is the position in the flock of each bird and the lower "ranked" hens will try to better themselves in the flock hierarchy by bullying the youngest pullets. Momma hen will often come to the rescue if the chick makes enough noise and in some cases so will the rooster but he is only reacting to the sound of alarm. If the bullying hens manage to draw blood the chicks or even the young pullets need to be separated from the flock until healed.

Answer 4

Hens peck their babies to discipline them. The hens have a pecking order in the coop, where one hen might feel superior to the other hens. Hens are territorial birds.