HELP! 6 day old chick got smothered!

[dazookeyper]

so sorry for your loss. Raising chicks, like raising children, is a learning experience. Best of luck with the 19 babies you have.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yeah, don't beat yourself up. It happens frequently. Chickens always sleep in a pile regardless of temperature. I have a bunch of adult roosters that sleep in a pile no matter how hot it is.

While they need a warm spot, the whole brooder doesn't need to be or more accurately shouldn't be that warm. The chicks need to find their comfort zone. A warm spot and a lot of cool space is exactly how a mother hen cares for her chicks.

 

[Raltarnee]

I noticed my little ones do this when I put them in my dressing gown so experimented and they do the same thing under anything. I believe it's how they would flatten themselves out while under mum in the nest. Usually they have little heads facing outwards and if it gets too warm they wiggle forward to a cooler spot. I don't know for a fact that this is true, but it makes a whole lot of sense to me...