So, my first chick hatched overnight. Dead and being eaten by other chickens before noon.....

[Blueeyez]

I don't understand what went wrong or when it happened.... This morning i found that one of my 3 broodies i have setting eggs had a chick hatch overnight because i could hear it peeping and saw the egg shell. This is my first time doing all this, but I thought the hen would protect her chicks? But I guess not? I don't know if maybe when the mom got off the nest to eat, another chickens noticed the baby and killed it? Maybe something was already wrong with it because it did hatch earlier than I was expecting and none of the others have hatched yet even though they were all started at the same time. So I don't know what went wrong, I just wanna make sure the same doesn't happen to the other chicks that should be hatching next! Any advice? Thanks

 

[EggSighted4Life]

On hatch day... I block the nest so chicks cannot accidentally get out and not find their way back in. Chilling is just as fatal as flock antics can be. I put food and water near the mom and chicks during the daytime ONLY while in this short term lock down. My broodies do raise their chicks with the flock... but not all broodies or flocks are created equal and each time can be slightly different.

Most moms' will become more and more protective after chicks are hatched. But pecking order can be brutal and her effort may be futile. And if she is confused, possible she did it... depending on the clues found at the scene of the crime.

Too many broody's equal too much confusion... for them and the chicks. For that reason I break them and make it spread out.

Hope the rest of your hatch comes along fantastic!

 

[song of joy]

X2. It's best to isolate the hen from the flock during the hatch so she and the chicks are undisturbed.

 

[Blueeyez]

Thank you! The hens are now on lockdown lol hoping more hatch overnight