Found a dead chick with my broody hen

Fire

In the Brooder
8 Years
Feb 3, 2011
40
0
32
This is my first time with a broody hen. She is a Barred Rock and we didnt have a rooster so I got some eggs from a friend for her to sit on. He gave us 2 eggs 21 days ago and 4 more a few days later. This morning I found what looks to be a mature chick that was still wet but dead. She was not sitting on the chick. The other egg that is ready to hatch is cracked and it is peeping. What is my best bet to make sure this chick makes it? The other eggs have about 3 more days to go. My hen is pretty young still about 18 months. The broody hen is still with the other hens but she dosnt let them in her box so I dont think any other hens bothered the chick and it dosnt seem to be mauled or anything. It has been very hot here over 100 all week.
 
I brought the egg that is hatching inside since I dont know why the other one died. It is in a box with a heat lamp over it. It is working at the hole in the egg please let me know if I need to do something different.



 
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Wrap some wet papertowels loosely around the egg for moisture. Without a bator not much else you can do unless you bring broody & all the eggs in with it. Bringing broody in would probably be your best bet if you can. Just stick her & eggs/babies in a box or kennel & let her do her thing where you can keep an eye on her.
 
I put the hen and the eggs in a dog crate like you said. It has more room than where she was and it may have been too hot or maybe another hen interfered. The egg that piped hatched and the chick seems to be fine, but mom pecked a big hole in a different egg. I am just going to have to see what happens I guess.
 

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