Chicharron
In the Brooder
- Jun 14, 2023
- 24
- 19
- 44
Yesterday, I found a random baby chick dead in the middle of the yard. I have no idea where it could have come from. It had no injuries and looked to be no more than a day old. There was no eggshell or anything nearby.
My broody did hatch out five chicks the day before that, but this was not one of them. It was also way too far from the coop to have wandered off on its own. Plus, I have the broody and her chicks secured in a crate.
I am baffled as to where it came from. Possibilities:
One of the broody's eggs somehow got out of the nest box and traveled all the way across the yard, then hatched on its own somewhere. Seems highly unlikely. Plus, the nest box had a lip, so it couldn't have rolled out. Also, I checked the broody's remaining unhatched eggs and the number did not change.
Another chicken hatched it and abandoned it. But none of my other hens are broody.
It came over from the neighbor's yard (many of my neighbors have chickens). But we also have secure fences around our properties with no little holes a chick could get through.
A predator got it from somewhere and left it there. But wouldn't they have eaten it? And again, no injuries.
It's such a mystery. Anyone got ideas?
My broody did hatch out five chicks the day before that, but this was not one of them. It was also way too far from the coop to have wandered off on its own. Plus, I have the broody and her chicks secured in a crate.
I am baffled as to where it came from. Possibilities:
One of the broody's eggs somehow got out of the nest box and traveled all the way across the yard, then hatched on its own somewhere. Seems highly unlikely. Plus, the nest box had a lip, so it couldn't have rolled out. Also, I checked the broody's remaining unhatched eggs and the number did not change.
Another chicken hatched it and abandoned it. But none of my other hens are broody.
It came over from the neighbor's yard (many of my neighbors have chickens). But we also have secure fences around our properties with no little holes a chick could get through.
A predator got it from somewhere and left it there. But wouldn't they have eaten it? And again, no injuries.
It's such a mystery. Anyone got ideas?
