Chicks keep dying

[SillySilkie]

my bantams have just started hatching chicks. This is the second clutch, last clutch all but two died, most were found dead a day or two after and another died in the egg and one died from being too weak.

I had mulitple broody hens at that time so I figured that was the issue.

Now I only have one broody hen with another one who isn’t sitting but is protective over a chick. That chick is like its own and is perfectly healthy. They are always in the bottom with the two other silkies, rooster, and 2 other bantams.

So in short have two fiesty Columbian Wyandotte that are protective over eggs and chicks. One over the one that is attached to it and the one actually sitting.

A week ago, a chick was born over night and was found headless with hens taking turns holding it. I thought maybe they just cracked a dead egg and moved on.

Three days ago, a chick was hatched and doing well. It has had access to food and water outside the nestbox in the pin. I checked it a hour ago and it was alive and well with its mom in the nestingbox, the mom puffs up is protective if you get close. I went out to check just now, and the chick was found headless in the bottom of the pin. What should i do. Is it the chicken below who is protective over her chick thats killing the others or something else?

 

[Rose Quartz]

It could be any of them. I would separate the broody from the rest of your birds. and if possible the hen with the chick too, into their own area.