chicks are hatching and maybe missing help!!!

[ginger c.]

ok, the eggs we put under our broody hen are starting to hatch. We saw one empty shell under the mama's breast, but no chick. Is it possible she or one of the other hens ate her baby? Or are mama hens just really good at hiding them? i know we must seem really stupid but this is our first time letting a hen hatch eggs. Any words of caution, advice, or consolation would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SpiritedFarm]

what kind of hen?

You would be suprised how well those lil fuzzbutts can hide in Mommas feathers/wings.

I had an old banty hen years ago that would hatch anything. You could pick her up and give her a lil shake and babys would come falling out of everywhere.

 

[ginger c.]

Tammy's a barred rock. we found the chick later last night and sometime today another hatched. since this is our first time to have a hen hatch chicks we, ie me, tend to freak-out! thanks a bunch!!

 

[SpiritedFarm]

Glad everything worked out.

 

[KeeperOfChicken]

Oh my goodness, I would have been so freaked out if I saw empty shell and no chick, it would have been an all hands on deck type of search lol ... glad everything worked out!