Mystery needing solved.

[chickengeorgeto]

Definitely check under her wing. I've had chicks tucked safely under their mom's wing when I pick her up and seemingly "disappear." My guess would be that she laid the fifth egg at some point when you didn't know about it, but I can't say for sure. Is the fifth egg the right color to be hers?

Sometimes I have lifted hens to move them and their chicks to new quarters and you would think that it was raining baby chicks because so many peeps were falling from under her wings. The same is true when checking the nest for late deposited eggs or to candle the eggs being incubated. You can end up breaking eggs or fouling an entire clutch of eggs if you are not careful when you pick up a sitting hen.

 

[townchicks]

Very good news! Maybe now she can raise them for you.

 

[PNW_Peepers]

Very good news! Maybe now she can raise them for you.

She did a wonderful job hatching them. She’s clueless about keeping them warm and showing them how to be chicks. I don’t trust her. I’m going to candle her remaining eggs tonight and decide if I’m going to kick her off the nest tomorrrow.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Congrats on finding the missing chick!

 

[townchicks]

Well, motherhood is not for everyone. At least she's not a cannibal.

 

[ronott1]

View attachment 1533624 Holy smokes guys! We found the missing chick! DH lifted the whole nest up and found this little thing spread out. He somehow brought it back to life. Our house is a sweltering 85 degrees but this little thing is ALIVE!!!!

 

[Mosey2003]

If she's skin and bones, I'd go ahead and break her unless the last eggs look imminent to hatch. It's really not hard to break a broody, it just takes time and a cage.
You put a wire cage up on cinderblocks or the like so that air gets underneath it, and put the hen in with food and water, no bedding. I picked up a wire dog cage super cheap because it was missing the floor pan. Just cut a piece of hardware cloth to fit and zip-tied it to the bottom bars - instant "broody breaker." You leave them in 3 days do start and keep checking daily after that for her to look up and active and not try to peck you if you reach in. If you put her down and she runs for a nest, toss her back in the cage a few more days.
Personally, I never let a broody hatch, but that's me.

 

[PirateGirl]

This is exciting news! I hope the littles are all snuggled and warm together now.

 

[Shadowfire]

It is possible she ate it. My salmon feverolles/thuringian mix hen eats her eggs and tries to eat chicks! I hope you find the chick and it's okay...

 

[PNW_Peepers]

If she's skin and bones, I'd go ahead and break her unless the last eggs look imminent to hatch. It's really not hard to break a broody, it just takes time and a cage.
You put a wire cage up on cinderblocks or the like so that air gets underneath it, and put the hen in with food and water, no bedding. I picked up a wire dog cage super cheap because it was missing the floor pan. Just cut a piece of hardware cloth to fit and zip-tied it to the bottom bars - instant "broody breaker." You leave them in 3 days do start and keep checking daily after that for her to look up and active and not try to peck you if you reach in. If you put her down and she runs for a nest, toss her back in the cage a few more days.
Personally, I never let a broody hatch, but that's me.

We tried the wire cage thing every other week for three months. She wasn’t quitting. Very determined broody.