Stupid Mistake

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.

 

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