Babies hatch headless and legless

[flyingpfarms]

i had a batch of 5 egg due on the 11th at latest 2 hatched yesterday healthy and fine. Another set hatches today they were twins I believe( can't tell how many shells are left due to protective momma hen) they hatched headless and legless.. Not sure if the peeked out or mom helped but quite odd to not have a head or any feet on either of them. Could this be a symptom of early hatching or a double yolk?

 

[sideWing]

i had a batch of 5 egg due on the 11th at latest 2 hatched yesterday healthy and fine. Another set hatches today they were twins I believe( can't tell how many shells are left due to protective momma hen) they hatched headless and legless.. Not sure if the peeked out or mom helped but quite odd to not have a head or any feet on either of them. Could this be a symptom of early hatching or a double yolk?

I'm sorry if I'm not understanding your question, but how would they get out of the egg without a head? Are you positive they did not get eaten after hatch? Sorry I know that sounds gross and sad. Are the necks and missing legs covered with skin or do they look cut off?

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Sorry about the bad hatch. X2 if the heads/legs are actually missing it sounds like they were either cannibalized by the hen, or some other predator got to them.

 

[drumstick diva]

I agree. I think you should remove live chicks from her and raise them in an incubator, before you find out MAMA did this to her babies.

I once had a litter of puppies where two were born headless and legless. But I was there at delivery and mama didn't do it. Either she had an infection during her pregnancy or a lot of bad genes from that breeding. I'm a very squeamish person and that really was a horrible sight to see.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[flyingpfarms]

no head were found, but the eggs were smashed.. Maybe mama hen smashed them and killed them and ate them.. Mother Nature carries quite odd things..