Dead chick

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FarmerGirl101 said:
What is the temperature of the heat source? It looks like case of Hypothermia the way the neck is. Could you maybe post a picture of the chick on solid flat ground if not too late. Hatching early is normal. Only a day early though.
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It's too late, I already disposed of it but it was quite flat. Just curled around like you saw.
 
rkinley said:
No obvious injuries. I'm thinking the stepped on theory is the most likely.

I admit I went out a lot and watched her. I'm not going anywhere near her for the next 2 days. I wonder if her agitation at me caused her to step on it. But there were 11 eggs, maybe it is just crowded. I tried moving her and the eggs very briefly 2 days ago to a brooder area (that is what I did in May, the last time she went broody & it was fine) but she didn't want to stay so moved them all back, very carefully of course!
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No. No. Don't do that. You're blaming yourself. Im really a even mix of stand off and hands on. If you've worked with this bird before as a broody, she was used to your observing. And even if you hadn't, you'd likely know when to give her space. As it seems you are pretty observant and empathetic to your animals. I would almost bet money on this chick being stepped on. But, it wasn't because of you. About 2 months ago one of my broody hatched 6 eggs. The first one out was a gorgeous black chick. Simply adorable. Hen was a amazing mom. First one hatched, tough and alert and doing fine. Next morning I came out and heard loud peeping. It was that first chick Who suddenly looked to have splayed legs after obviously being fine the day before. I brought her in and she passed a few hours later from obvious internal injury. My thought is mom accidently got her while adjusting herself for the other hatches.

Moral of the story, it happens. Nature is just nature. I find broody hens to be a lot easier than my incubator eggs but nonetheless heart wrenching at times.
 

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