Immediate help/advice please - broody possibly killing chicks?

[Kitei]

I'm quite worried at the moment.

I went up to the birds about 30 minutes ago and found what I thought was a dead chick outside of the nest with or broody hen. Thankfully it was still just about breathing and is now on my lap, wrapped in a teatowl on a hot water bottle to try and warm it up.

This isn't the first time I've found her like this, though. The sole surviving duckling from her last clutch (others died in shell about half-way through due to storms) was also in pretty much the exact same place, but I'd found that too late.

Would I be correct in thinking that she's pushing the baby birds out the nest once they are out of the shell? She's a silkie, and I've heard rumours about them not always recognizing the chicks once they hatch.

If so, what should I do? The other eggs are in the process of pipping, I assume. (I know one for definite, not sure about the others) and I haven't got anything set up at the moment for chicks, and I think the heat lamp would take a while to set up, so should I get that done ASAP?

 

[galanie]

Yes, you should. She sounds like she is killing them one way or another. I have one that will step on them and sit down that way and kill them. She is no longer allowed to have clutches.

 

[Kitei]

Right, I'll run and do that.

What should I do about the eggs that are still pipping?

 

[galanie]

Best to leave them alone till they hatch. It's a risk but if you don't have an incubator or hatcher then that's all you can do.