*Trigger* (pic included) How to tell age of dead chick

[tess36]

Thank you for those who chimed in. I guess I won't know how/why it happened. I do know my original, top hen, Lady (SLW, was my avatar pic until I changed it today), has always been a bit of a bully, and as of late, I suspect becoming an opportunistic egg eater. I have caught her several times "hovering" in the area of my broody the last two days. I wonder if today, when my BCM got up for her daily recharge, Lady attempted to "eat" an egg and found an almost, but not quite, ready to hatch chick. I hope at least some of the remaining 11-12 hatch out.

 

[AngieDawn]

I'm sorry if starting a new thread that is tangientally related to the one I just posted is a no-no, but I have a new issue. Beside my broody hen (under a mower) I found a broken egg. When I went to remove it, I found a dead, wet chick next to it. I'm not sure if I should post a pic, but I'm trying to gauge the age. The eyes don't seem overly large, are slightly open, there are claws on the toes, there are feathers, the abdomen looks somewhat swollen like yolk, I see what looks like yolk on the feathers. The egg beside the chick was definitely "gooey" for lack of a better term. This was definitely the source of the odor. There did not seem to be any insect feeding as yet, but this odor was noted when we found the hen Thursday. I can't imagine this baby has been lying on the ground since Thursday, in the 80s, and still look this "intact." Is there any way to guess the development of the chick? I can post a pic if that would help, but didn't want to if I shouldn't. I haven't been active on here in quite a while and don't want to make a guideline boo-boo. Thank you to anyone who can help

Edited to add picture of poor chick.View attachment 2145964

I would post this on the incubating page. Some of us have never seen them before a day old so you may get better answers there

 

[tess36]

I'm just commenting to tie up the thread. I believe hatch date was 5/17-18. We cracked open an egg on 5/22. The contents were decomposing, liquified remains. Based upon the discovery of a fully formed, very wet, dead chick on 5/17, my theory is that humidity got too high at some point shortly before that date and not enough moisture reabsorbed, leading to the death of all chicks in their eggs. Thank you all for your input and help, even if it didn't end up with a happy ending.

 

[em_dawson]

I'm just commenting to tie up the thread. I believe hatch date was 5/17-18. We cracked open an egg on 5/22. The contents were decomposing, liquified remains. Based upon the discovery of a fully formed, very wet, dead chick on 5/17, my theory is that humidity got too high at some point shortly before that date and not enough moisture reabsorbed, leading to the death of all chicks in their eggs. Thank you all for your input and help, even if it didn't end up with a happy ending.

I’m so sorry Hopefully next time will go better!!