Silkie killed rescue chick :(

[RaspberryPie]

Hi all,

My silkie hatched and raised 4 chicks on her own, and it seemed like she had abandoned her last two eggs. Because they were stone cold, and one was bloody and smashed a bit, I decided to dispose of them. Suddenly I heard cheeping coming from within the bloody egg! I quickly started to break the shell open, and noticed the membrane was dry so I decided to help the chick out.

Thankfully it had absorbed its yolk and seemed healthy, so I kept it warm and dried it off. I kept it warm and safe all day. Mama was stomping around with her other chicks so i thought I'd wait until night time to give it back.

Next day, first thing I checked to see if she had accepted her. Little chickie was getting up with the others and Mama seemed unphased. Yay! Or so I thought.

Day 3, all the chicks are getting along and I go out for work. When I come back, the little chickie I saved was missing. I found her in the corner of the coop with a savage bloody patch on the back of the head. I am almost certain Mama killed her.

What did I do wrong? Will she kill the other chicks or did she just see her as an intruder? I know this is just a part of chicken life but I am very sad and concerned, she is a first time Mama and may not be cut out for this i haven't seen her peck the other chicks but it's hard to know.

Any advice would be much appreciated... thank you.

 

[RaspberryPie]

 

[LaFleche]

Your momma Silkie must have noticed something wrong with your rescue chick and disposed of it. This appears cruel to us, but is her (and nature's) way to keep the other healthy chicks safe.

I am sorry you lost it.

 

[RaspberryPie]

T

Your momma Silkie must have noticed something wrong with your rescue chick and disposed of it. This appears cruel to us, but is her (and nature's) way to keep the other healthy chicks safe.

I am sorry you lost it.

Thanks, she hasn't hurt the other chicks so I guess she must have just thought something was wrong with it. Very sad but at least the other 4 are okay. Thanks.

 

[ChickensinG]

Hi all,

My silkie hatched and raised 4 chicks on her own, and it seemed like she had abandoned her last two eggs. Because they were stone cold, and one was bloody and smashed a bit, I decided to dispose of them. Suddenly I heard cheeping coming from within the bloody egg! I quickly started to break the shell open, and noticed the membrane was dry so I decided to help the chick out.

Thankfully it had absorbed its yolk and seemed healthy, so I kept it warm and dried it off. I kept it warm and safe all day. Mama was stomping around with her other chicks so i thought I'd wait until night time to give it back.

Next day, first thing I checked to see if she had accepted her. Little chickie was getting up with the others and Mama seemed unphased. Yay! Or so I thought.

Day 3, all the chicks are getting along and I go out for work. When I come back, the little chickie I saved was missing. I found her in the corner of the coop with a savage bloody patch on the back of the head. I am almost certain Mama killed her.

What did I do wrong? Will she kill the other chicks or did she just see her as an intruder? I know this is just a part of chicken life but I am very sad and concerned, she is a first time Mama and may not be cut out for this i haven't seen her peck the other chicks but it's hard to know.

Any advice would be much appreciated... thank you.

Most of the time when any animal abandons a newborn or egg, it's because the baby is flawed or sick. I've rescued many a newborn kitten or puppy and work supper hard to keep it alive just to see it die. Animals have a sense to detect this and nurture the stronger of the babies. If you insist on keeping him alive, he'll definitely need a sibling to keep him company. Flocks need each other to survive. Good luck