Reading your comments on this thread, I believe your problem is staggered batch. Your eggs are not all due to hatch at the same time because you are not removing freshly laid eggs daily.
Your broody is not taking live chicks out of the nest to eat and drink because of the remaining eggs to hatch.
As she tries to get those late eggs to hatch, the live chicks perish for lack of food and water.
This is why it is important to remove all eggs daily from your coop.
If you get a broody, start saving eggs for her. Do not refrigerate or wash them. Place them in an egg carton pointy end down for up to a week. Put eggs and broody in your small hutch/ coop after dark at night. Mark your calendar 21 days. ( actually most start hatching at day 19).
When first chicks start hatching place chick starter and chick waterer where it is easily available. Remove any unhatched eggs after day 24.
Your hen will switch from brood mode to chick mother mode once all eggs are removed.
I believe your hens are fine. Your broody system and set up is what's wrong .
good luck!
Your broody is not taking live chicks out of the nest to eat and drink because of the remaining eggs to hatch.
As she tries to get those late eggs to hatch, the live chicks perish for lack of food and water.
This is why it is important to remove all eggs daily from your coop.
If you get a broody, start saving eggs for her. Do not refrigerate or wash them. Place them in an egg carton pointy end down for up to a week. Put eggs and broody in your small hutch/ coop after dark at night. Mark your calendar 21 days. ( actually most start hatching at day 19).
When first chicks start hatching place chick starter and chick waterer where it is easily available. Remove any unhatched eggs after day 24.
Your hen will switch from brood mode to chick mother mode once all eggs are removed.
I believe your hens are fine. Your broody system and set up is what's wrong .
good luck!
