Why did the chicks die!?

[Zoramarie]

I have a hen laying on eggs, at about 15 days i noticed one egg outside the nest that was smashed looking. There was a partially developed chick that was dead of course. Then today on day 21 i went to see if the other five had hatched. I was bummed to see two more dead chicks and the other eggs were not hatched or anything. I've never had chickens so I don't know why the chicks did this.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Unfortunately it's called "Nature" and we usually have no control over Mother Nature. The egg out of the nest at 15days, hen could have kicked it out knowing it was "bad" or she could have accidentally bumped it out when turning her eggs.

Where were the 2 dead chicks/day 21, in the nest or out? Did the hen leave the nest or did you have to move her? The unhatched ones still may be good, is the hen still on the nest? If she's still setting, leave her alone ... If she's done, the eggs are probably no good.

How often have you been checking the nest/eggs? When you do, do you remove her or just look under her? Is this her first time setting? It could be the chicks just stopped developing or the developing wrong or she's inexperienced ...

 

[Zoramarie]

The two dead chicks on day 21 were in the nest. I don't move her she comes off the nest on her own and goes back on it on her own. I looked in at the eggs every day when gets off them. I didn't touch them. This is her first time sitting.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Ok, it's her first time so she's new to it. I'd give her another chance at hatching after she rests some. Is she still sitting on the unhatched eggs? You could give them a couple more days before "giving up". IF they don't hatch, you could open them up to see how far along they developed OR they also could be infertile.

 

[Zoramarie]

Thanks I will watch and see, she is on the nest still this morning. I wasn't sure I could touch her eggs, I thought maybe if i did she would leave them.