While back Buff got broody. Sat for a week. I was all excited. Went out a week later when I caught her eating and as you can guess. No eggs. But she went right back in to sitting. So I got my other buff egg that day and put it under her. Next day same thing. Well the first egg I found broken at about 2 weeks. But yesterday at 21 days baby chick. It was healthy and under mom. Well tonight I couldn't hear the chirping and hubby and I checked and it was dead under mom. Important note. We have a pair of bantams. And for some reason the bantam started laying eggs under buff last week. I did not know this and was on vacation. Yesterday when I checked for the chick mom had bantam eggs under her. She is still sitting. I am wondering if the sitting on the eggs is different than the way she sits on chicks (I would assume so) and if that smothered the chick. I know they keep the chicks under them but would assume they would have to let more air in for the chick than an egg. I am checking for new eggs so that no more are laid under her. We are very upset. And have to give my 8 year old an answer in the morning. And would like to have a real answer. Welcome to the world of chickens.
I am so sorry for your disappointment. I had chickens myself 25 yrs ago, but never raised little ones from a broody hen. All I can remember is that my Mama would not let a hen (RIR) set on just 1 or 2 eggs because she said the hen would squash the chicks when they hatched. Now you have to remember this was in the 1950's and my Mama is gone and I was 7 years old. She tried to keep a Bantam hen and sneak large eggs under her when she got broody. The only thing I can think of is that a larger hen like a RIR or a BO is a heavy and one chick tends to get too far under mama inadvertently setting itself up for asphixiation. Don't give up on raising little ones. I doubt it was the hen's fault, more likely just the situation. Jean
