dead chick wrapped around mother

[chickener]

I went to let the chicks and mother out this morning and the mother came running out with a baby wrapped around her feathers dead.
Does anybody no what could have happened?
Is there anything I can do to stop this happening again.

this is the third chick ive lost, a rat took the other 2. I really dont want to lose anymore, help me

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Unfortunately I've seen this before. Last spring my BO hatched a huge clutch. She's a big fluffy girl, and had lots of babies zooming in and out of her feathers. I had one get tangled in those feathers and die. It was so tangled I had to cut it off her. Short of shaving your poor hen bald, I don't think there's really much you can do. Sometimes they just do the dumbest things and pass on because of it. Im so sorry about your chicks

 

[chickener]

Thanks for the reply
ye i thought thats what might have done it, the chick was very tangled so i did have to cut it off
Should i cut her feathers back a bit to prevent this happening again??

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I wouldn't. This is really pretty unusual. Also, it's always possible the chick was sick or even died of natural causes and then got tangled.