My silkie went broody about a month ago and although I didn't expect any to hatch I couldn't break her and she hatched out three lovely babies. Sadly however on the last two mornings when I've gone out to the chickens I have found one dead in the nest. We now only have one baby left and I would love to have it surrvive. I don't know what happened to the others they were active and walking around with mamma eating and scratching and mamma was doing a great job of watching them and letting them get under her to stay warm. I never did see the chicks drink, is it possible that she neglected to teach them that? Should I teach the chick to drink like you do with a hatchery chick? Could they be getting smothered under mamma at night? I'd rather that the mamma could raise the chick but now I'm thinking I should bring it inside and brood it myself. If I bring the chick in now after it's been with it's mamma for two days is it going to stress it out? Help, I don't know what the right thing is to do, any advice would be very welcome.
That would work, but maybe next time teach them to drink when they hatch, the same day or next day. They can survive shipping for 3 days with no water due to the nourishment within their egg itself. How long has it been since hatched? It could be that the remaining one has not drunk either, so you may want to teach it to drink right away. You could bring both it and the momma in for a few days since it is getting to cooler weather now. I doubt that it smothered, and if other hens had pecked it to death, you would have seen that. The water thing makes sense. I assume the chick can access food and water?
I would leave it with Momma to raise if it were me. I got my Barred Rock 4 fertile eggs to hatch when she went broody. All 4 took and now four wks old. When they all hatched, I put a little waterer in the nest box and dipped their beaks for two days until I saw them drink on their own. Good luck with your little one whatever you deside.
