One of my silky eggs finally hatched under my hen Donnie to reveal the cutest fluffy bunch of feathers I have ever seen. All was well. I put Mother and baby to bed on Saturday night, I woke up the next morning to find the chick dead under Donnie along with an egg from one of the other hens in the nest box, the chick must have got squashed in the kerfuffle. I thought the separator was pulled over enough or certainly that Donnie would tell any other hen to do one if they tried coming near like her mother Belina did when she was a chick. Belina even took on a big dog that got too close for comfort and soon sent it packing! I guess Donnie is too low down in the pecking order though. I just feel so guilty. I should have been more careful. I know it's just one chick but I was so looking forward to watching that little thing grow up, run and spread it's wings, develop a personality, will it like grapes or apple?..... I just feel terrible about it. Luckily I found a farm near by that had day old hatchlings so I went and got 4 chicks, 2 bantams and 2 buffs. I know it's weird to say but as soon as Donnie heard them she got so excited. She accepted them straight away. She seems very happy now. Safe to say I've taken extra, extra precautions now to ensure no more accidents. Sorry if this seems like drivel but not many people around me seem to understand my love and feelings towards chickens unless they are covered in breadcrumbs! Ultimately though I still just feel so bad about what happened to my little silkie. So do be careful with your new chicks folks. They really are precious little balls of joy and sunshine.
Welcome to the club, we all make mistakes we feel guilty about. No one can forsee every possible thing that can go wrong. All that can be done is to never repeat the same mistake. I'm glad your hen was happy to adopt her foster chicks.
Glad you joined us! I'm sorry about the chick. Mistakes happen to everyone. I'm glad your broody hen is happy with her new chicks, though.
Welcome to BYC! We're glad to have you. I'm sorry to hear about the chick! Just keep in mind that mistakes happen- I've made lots of them in regards to my chickens. The most important thing to do is to learn from mistakes, so that they don't happen again.
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. I'm sorry about the loss of your chick. It's always sad to lose one of our flock. I'm glad you were able to get some more chicks. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Are your Buffs, Buff Orpingtons or Golden Buffs?
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help. Sorry about your chick! Cool avatar!
Thank you for the kind words everyone. I've been a lurker on this site for a long time now and hope to keep gaining experience and knowledge so I can maybe contribute more. To answer the previous question I got Buff Orpington's x
You're welcome. A lot of us were lurkers before joining. Buff Orpingtons are a wonderful breed. I've raised them for years, and they are hardy, calm and gentle (my children, and now my granddaughter, made lap pets of them), and good, layers of large, brown eggs. Good luck with your flock.
Sorry about your chick. I've been raising chickens all my life, I'm rapidly gaining on the half century mark and I still make mistakes. You couldn't have known that would happen.
Hello and Welcome To BYC! So sorry about the little chick glad you were able to find some foster chicks for the hen.