I hope someone can reassure me....

[newjchick]

Hi, this is the first time I've had a broody mother hen hatch a clutch of eggs. I only allowed 3 eggs under her, since I don't have the much space in the coop for a large addition of chickens. Well, today the first baby hatched. So exciting. I went back out to check on the progress of the other two eggs. I gently lifted the mother and saw a freshly hatched baby under her, still all wet, so I quickly put her back down on the nest. When I went out a little while later I coaxed mother hen over to check on the second baby and saw it was dead underneath her. I feel like I caused this b/c I moved the mother. Maybe when I put her back on the nest she suffocated or crushed the second baby. I know I've broken the rule of just letting the mother be during hatching time, and now I'm regretting that I ever did so. Do you think my intrusion caused the death of the second baby? Any thoughts would help since I'm very new to this.

 

[sourland]

Yes, possibly your intrusion may have caused the hen to inadvertantly step on the chick; however, the greater possibility is that she did it on her own. As you have learned, it is better to leave broody hens alone until the hatch is complete.