Lost a chick today from a broody hen

[Ranchwithaview]

We had a young hen go broody and she did great sitting on her eggs. 100% hatch rate, 2. Four hours later there was only one. Earlier there was no sign of problem, aggression from other hens, etc. Then...just no chick. I am devastated.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Sorry. I've found that a lot of birds like to sit on eggs, but not many of them want to be mothers and protect their young.

 

[ashlierami]

I'm so sorry to hear that. How is she treating the one chick that is left? My hens have particularly been good to the chicks. Some of mine raise them longer than others. I did have one hen that picked on her chick and it seemed to be because one was light and one was a black chick like her. I had to watch her and put the chick under her and she finally accepted it and took care of it. If she's a killer mama I would suggest not letting her raise chicks. If you want chicks I would let her brood but once it's time for hatch I would raise them, or just incubate them yourself. You never know how the mama is going to be. She may be the same each time or not. Hope she protects the one chick that is left.

 

[Ranchwithaview]

She seemed to be protective of them both. The one that is gone did look slightly lighter in the face. My daughter wants to raise the chick that is left. She wanted to take them both right away, but I wanted to give the hen a chance, which leaves me feeling even worse.

None of the other hens or rooster seemed to care that she had chicks. They were in the yard, she was in the coop.

If she went out, would a day old chick follow?

Thanks.

 

[ashlierami]

She seemed to be protective of them both. The one that is gone did look slightly lighter in the face. My daughter wants to raise the chick that is left. She wanted to take them both right away, but I wanted to give the hen a chance, which leaves me feeling even worse.

None of the other hens or rooster seemed to care that she had chicks. They were in the yard, she was in the coop.

If she went out, would a day old chick follow?

Thanks.

Yes as long as the grass isn't to high and the mama calls for it. I've had my hens outside with their day old chicks in 30 degree weather and they did fine. The chick will follow mama and her clucking and she will show food and water . If the chick is cold she will sit and keep the chick warm. Make sure there are no predators around such as a dog or cat. I always keep my Mama's close to home when I free range them and their new chicks for the first week. If the hen is leaving the chick and not protecting it then take it immediately she will abandon it when your not looking and the chick will be bullied or lost.

 

[Stacyoung13]

That’s a shame, so sorry!! My silkies are extremely good mamas. Cotton, my white Silkie was still letting her babies get up under her on the perch at 6 weeks. BooBoo my Black Silkie went after my Black Swedish Duck for getting to close to her babies, 3 weeks old. I’ve lost babies, but only one from another chicken, and only because my Roo was jumping down from the perch and landed on the baby and broke its neck.

 

[aart]

She seemed to be protective of them both. The one that is gone did look slightly lighter in the face. My daughter wants to raise the chick that is left. She wanted to take them both right away, but I wanted to give the hen a chance, which leaves me feeling even worse.

None of the other hens or rooster seemed to care that she had chicks. They were in the yard, she was in the coop.

If she went out, would a day old chick follow?

Thanks.

Do they totally free range?
Hard to say if this a 'bad broody' situation or something else.

 

[Ranchwithaview]

That’s a shame, so sorry!! My silkies are extremely good mamas. Cotton, my white Silkie was still letting her babies get up under her on the perch at 6 weeks. BooBoo my Black Silkie went after my Black Swedish Duck for getting to close to her babies, 3 weeks old. I’ve lost babies, but only one from another chicken, and only because my Roo was jumping down from the perch and landed on the baby and broke its neck.

That's encouraging, thanks. Maybe next time a hen goes broody it will go better.

 

[Ranchwithaview]

Do they totally free range?
Hard to say if this a 'bad broody' situation or something else.

They used to free range, but recently were temporarily down sized to a large chicken yard and their coops (2).

 

[aart]

They used to free range, but recently were temporarily down sized to a large chicken yard and their coops (2).

Chick totally disappeared?
I had to line my runs(2x4 welded wire) with 1/2" HC 2' high to keep chicks from getting out.