1st time Broody & Tiny Chick

[StarLightFarms]

My Hen who was born in March went Broody. She hatched a tiny chick last week. The chick seemed to be doing great, very active, eating, drinking and everything. I just checked on them this morning and the chick was dead beside Mama sitting on the other eggs. Chick would have been a week old tomorrow. I feel terrible...I had a heat light for them and of course Mama was doing her part being protective and keeping chick warm. We had a frost last night. Just wondering if the chick being so small was the reasoning. Mama's eggs are so tiny so I was surprised that the chick had hatched and was doing so well but did not expect to find it gone this morning. Also I'm blaming myself because I didn't have chick starter on hand and when I was able to pick some up my feed store was closed, so they were eating grower like the rest of my flock.

 

[sourland]

Sorry for your loss. Sounds as if the chick was from a pullet egg and just not large/strong enough to survive. I doubt that your husbandry caused the death - don't blame yourself.

 

[StarLightFarms]

Sorry for your loss. Sounds as if the chick was from a pullet egg and just not large/strong enough to survive. I doubt that your husbandry caused the death - don't blame yourself.

Thank you, I really appreciate this. I didn't realize that was something that could happen.

 

[Gramma Lea]

My chick hatched today, and hasn’t eaten yet. Will she do it on her own? She is hiding under mama. She is beautiful and chirping. She is 4 hours out of the shell.
Worried Gram

 

[rosemarythyme]

My chick hatched today, and hasn’t eaten yet. Will she do it on her own? She is hiding under mama. She is beautiful and chirping. She is 4 hours out of the shell

Chicks can survive off their yolk for approximately the first 3 days, so not unusual that it hasn't eaten yet. Mama will show it where and how to eat when she's ready