New member and need assist with hatching chicks!

[Chikinlover16]

Hi everyone,
So I've had chickens for 2 years now. Reds, Australops, Auracauna's, Cochins and now a Langshan EE cross.
My EE cross is a year old and became very broody so we purchased some fertilized eggs, 8 to place under her. She's been a real champ sitting on her eggs these 21 days. So yesterday after not hearing any chirping we took a peek under her and saw one chick had hatched. We then left her alone. Today my son found a chick dead next to momma. We have incubated chicks and because I am a control freak, i am not happy about this dead chick! All ours hatched and lived in the bator.

So did she kill it? Did it die and she booted it out? Should I fire up the bator and brooder and if it happens again, just take the remaining eggs out, 2 which are Bielefelders who I really want to survive ? Ahhh this is more stressful than incubating them! Not thrilled with Mother Nature's natural selection!

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under Chikinlover16

Welcome!

Tough call, especially with a first time mumma.

Sorry for your loss

Is the chick your son found dead the same one that you saw yesterday as in she does not have any chicks she is currently caring for? If it is not the same one and she is looking after a chick, I do not think that she would have killed it.

I would fire up the bator and brooder and keep a very close eye on her. I wouldn’t want to take the eggs away from her just yet, if she is not to blame and you take the eggs from her she has nothing to show for her 3 weeks of nuturing. Yeah, she will get over it but it is kinda sad. Also, if you do not give her a bit longer on the eggs, you will never know if she is going to be a good mumma or not. She may be tagged as a chick killer when she in fact would make a wonderful mum.

Anyways, just my thoughts and as I said, tough call!

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

If you would like to share pictures and stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out

 

[drumstick diva]

Agree with Teila. Sending good hatching vibes your way

 

[sunflour]

glad you have joined us.

Sorry about the loss and hope she does prove she can have a successful brood.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - you have some great advice already from Teila, so I'll just say hello!

All the best
CT