Hen abandoned one chick

[ZoeStevens]

My experience hen sat on and hatched 7 eggs (one other chick died just out of the egg, and three eggs were not viable). The last chick to hatch was abandoned by the hen. She kicked it out halfway while the others were hatching, and I was about to huck it when I noticed the chick had broken through the egg and was alive. I put it back underneath her. This morning it was still in her nest area and alive, but she was out and about with the chicks.

Tonight the chick was out of the egg in the middle of her box, and still alive to my surprise, but cold. I brought it inside and put it under heat. It appears to be normal and is more lively now that it is under heat, but it still looks kind of icky. It is not wet anymore but it's not fluffy like the others. It has opened its eyes.

Is there likely something wrong with it that the hen knows? Other than providing food and water, what else should I do for it?

 

[Judy]

There is quite possibly something wrong. However, I would wait til after dark then slip the chick under her again, and see if she will accept it. It's normal for them to abandon remaining eggs when their timetable says it's time to get off the nest and care for the chicks. Hopefully this was the problem and you have skirted around it.