Losing chicks and not sure why

[mhegge]

I have my first two broody hens and they have basically been sitting since Memorial Day weekend. The one had some egg mix ups with other hens coming in and some next switching, all before I got the broodies separate from the others, and she lost all of her original eggs somewhere around the 14 day mark. I gave her 5 fresh eggs on the 29th. My other was set to begin hatching starting last Friday. She had begun with 16 eggs under her and was down to 6-7 as some broke or she kicked out and they smelled really bad. I heard chirping Sunday and Monday, had seen two eggs pipped and was quite excited. But then Monday morning she pushed a dead chick out of the nest, it was still partly in the shell and there was this weird dark tan/green curdled stuff. I still heard chirping so knew one was still there. Last night though I went out and didn't hear it, lifted her feathers and it was under her one foot, dead. It had a little of the yolk sac out yet, but I had read that wasn't all too uncommon. It was formed as if it was ready to hatch, at least to my eye looked developed well etc save for the little yolk sac on the belly. This afternoon I went out and found another dead chick pushed out, this one though looked like it may have been a day or two early. What is going on?? I feel so bad for my hens as they are so determined and losing their babies! It has been very hot and humid here (Wisconsin) and yesterday there was a massive shift and the temp and humidity dropped big time about an hour before I found the chick under her foot. Could that have anything to do with it? Was it because I checked the eggs? Should I check what is under her yet? Give her fresh hay for her nest because some hatched and died there?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Are you separating them out of the general population? My broody recently hatched a single chick out of 4 eggs. One egg went missing, and 2 didn't hatch. Sometimes it works well and sometimes it doesn't. Lots can factor into it. Where they sit, how dirty they are, and etc.

Bad eggs can contaminate other eggs. Chicks can get squished, or killed by other birds. I sometimes candle, and mess with the eggs and sometimes I don't. It doesn't seem to matter as long as you handle them carefully and with clean hands.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I forgot to add things like fertility, shape of the eggs, quality of the shell, and storage of eggs before the hen starts to set are also factors in success. There's tons more factors but I'm sure you get my point.

 

[mhegge]

I have them in the same coop but separated by a chicken wire fence. I did go ahead and change the hat and they let me do that without much fuss. I know there are so many factors, but I cant help but wonder and worry.