Newborn chicks dying...why?

[atira]

My hen hatched her adopted eggs (10 of them) and 5 hatched at 20 days, 3 hatched at 21 days and 2 still unhatched as of today. I know that 1 chick from first hatching looked poorly, and the 3 from the next hatching looked rough, but went out today and only have 1 live chick from day 1 hatch alive and hoping that the other 2 eggs will hatch. The hen was just sitting on the nest with the dead chicks under her. I know that the heat is getting bad here and thought that might be the cause. I just hate loosing these chicks because they would have been so beautiful when full-grown.
The temps today are suppose to be 95 and 102 tomorrow. Put a fan in the pen area and am letting the air hit inside of the coop in hopes that the temp inside will drop. The pen area has a tarp over the top and 1/2 way down the sides and allows air flow all around. I cried this morning as I had to dispose of the 4 deceased chicks. They were so beautiful. I need someone's help, since this is the first time I have had chickens let alone bought eggs because of my broody hen to hatch. It just hurts to know that Mother Nature probably knows better than I do.
HELP...

 

[CMV]

The chicks should not be bothered by the heat. Remember, you keep them at 95 degrees under a heat lamp when you don't have a broody. They have no real feathers for insulation.

Did they die because the mother stepped on them or did they die because they were unthrifty at birth?

 

[atira]

No idea...a couple of them looked "rough" at birth, but the others appeared alright. Taking the one living one (as I type, alive) and trying to make it eat/drink. Mommy might have accidentally killed the other chicks, since they all were laying on their sides and under her. Her first clutch of trying to hatch. Might be her last. Going to let nature take its course and hope for the best.

 

[CMV]

I think I would pull them out and raise them inside. A good broody does not necessarily mean a good mother. With all of them dropping dead for no apparent reason, I am guessing she is squashing them. A few may have died just because they were weak, but when large numbers die it is probably something the broody is doing.

I am sorry for your losses.

 

[atira]

All chicks are dead. Last 2 which hadn't hatched were broken into by hen. At least she isn't broody now...

 

[CMV]

I am so sorry. That is too bad. I guess you know in the future to not trust this broody to raise any babies.

My broody hatched out 4 babies, but when the 5th came along she rejected it as soon as it started coming out of the shell. I moved the baby inside to finish hatching as it was still very cold outside. The broody continued sitting on one remaining egg, so after number 5 was stabilized- eating, drinking and walking- I moved it back out under the broody late at night. The first time the chick popped out from under the broody and she laid eyes on the new baby, she killed it. Deliberately killed it. To this day I have no idea why or what happened. She ended up raising up the other 4 babies really well. I am hesitant to use her as a mother again, though.

 

[atira]

Thank-you for caring and for your insight on this matter. I am a first time raiser of chickens and I know that I have to much to learn. Forums such as this makes it easier to learn from those who have experienced the same things.
I have decided that if this hen goes broody on me again she is just going to have to stay that way unless I can get an ostrich egg under her and give her a reason to "act right".
It is funny that she is out with the other 2 hens and 2 young chicks (her babies, but someone else hatched them) and acts as if nothing happened. But then in her little brain...nothing did happen. Only the human knows and has to bear the pain of it.

 

[CMV]

My oldest hen is a chronic broody, but I have never let her set any eggs because she is a bully and a brute. I am pretty sure she would kill any babies that showed up under her. I have kept that useless bird for over 5 years, barely got any eggs from her in all those years because she is constantly either broody or molting or it's the dead of winter, and she is such a jerk that I can't trust her to actually hatch out any eggs for me. I named her Dinner years ago, but at this point she is so old she wouldn't even be any good for that. I only keep her because she is old and slow, so I figure if a predator is going to get any of the birds hopefully it will be her rather than one of my younger layers.

Someday in a few years, you may be on this forum saying the same thing about your broody. Just know that there are others here that can commiserate with you.

Take care and good luck.

 

[hdowden]

ive had to remove all chicks after hatching from 3 different broodies due to them dying after they were removed they have been doing great. those 3 are good broodies but horrible moms (which i say boo to)

 

[atira]

My broody hen as of right now is no longer broody acting...She managed to destroy all of the chicks and the eggs. That is alright though...The next time she becomes broody...I will put eggs under her and watch better for when they are hatching and raise them myself...But she was a loyal hen when it came to being broody...just needed to go to a parenting class...