Found a dead chick next to my broody hen

[AriasMama]

Today I went outside to find a dead chick next to my broody hen. There are no other chickens in with her. What could have happened? Did she kill them? And should I remove the other eggs that she’s sitting on?
I left it for a while to make sure it wasn’t alive and when I came back out she had moved it underneath her. Would she do that if she killed it?

This is my first time letting my hens hatch eggs so I don’t know what I’m doing

 

[Aunt Angus]

It's very possible she killed it. Did you find any evidence of injury or pecking wounds on it?

There are other possibilities, but some hens do kill their chicks - esp young pullets or first time mamas.

 

[AriasMama]

It's very possible she killed it. Did you find any evidence of injury or pecking wounds on it?

There are other possibilities, but some hens do kill their chicks - esp young pullets or first time mamas

 

[AriasMama]

No obvious signs of injury

 

[Mrs. K]

Not everything lives. The first 24-48 hours after hatching, can easily not thrive and die. The fact that it was beside her, and not eaten, I would be quite surprised if she attacked it.

Leave her be, don't bother her at all.

Mrs. K

 

[Aunt Angus]

Then it's a judgment call, I think. Has she hatched chicks before?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Not everything lives. The first 24-48 hours after hatching, can easily not thrive and die. The fact that it was beside her, and not eaten, I would be quite surprised if she attacked it.

Leave her be, don't bother her at all.

Mrs. K

I've had both happen. But I don't have a ton of experience with it. This is good to know.

 

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

If she tried to protect it after it was dead, I doubt she killed it.

Could it have fallen in a water bowl and aspirated water ?

 

[AriasMama]

Then it's a judgment call, I think. Has she hatched chicks before?

This is her first time

 

[Aunt Angus]

This is her first time

I'd go with what the others have said. Just keep an eye on it so you can intervene if needed.