Only surviving chick died today

[SheppFamilyFlock]

One of our two hens had a small clutch of 3 eggs. One was empty when we candled it, and one died right after it hatched, we're not sure why. The last chick was about 2 weeks old and unfortunately died today, it drowned in an overturned container that had collected rainwater. I'm devastated pregnant and hormonal and probably much more devastated than I should be... but my question is how long can I expect to wait for the hen to start laying again? We only have 2 layers and one of them has been broody for the last 5/6 weeks. She was out and about foraging today without her baby, that's how I knew something was wrong immediately. She seemed like she had forgotten all about it (maybe she had). Should I expect to wait weeks, for when the chick would have been weaned if it survived? Or will she reset sooner? This was our first experience of broody so don't know what to expect. Thanks.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry about your chick, how sad.

There's really no way to know when she will come back into lay. Most of my broody hens go through a soft molt, so it may take several weeks for her system to reset.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Pregnant?! Congratulations! When is your baby due? I'm sorry about your chick, too, but ... pregnant!

 

[SheppFamilyFlock]

I'm sorry about your chick, how sad.

There's really no way to know when she will come back into lay. Most of my broody hens go through a soft molt, so it may take several weeks for her system to reset.

Thank you. I feel so awful we loved watching the mama and her cute little baby outside doing their thing. The container was an oversight but definitely a mistake we won't make again.

So we will just wait and see, sounds good to me. Thanks again

 

[SheppFamilyFlock]

Pregnant?! Congratulations! When is your baby due? I'm sorry about your chick, too, but ... pregnant!

Haha thanks! I'm due in November, it's my third child but the hormones don't get easier to deal with

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Raising chicks is not for the faint of heart. A few years back we had Buff Orpingtons. I think we had 8 and 4 of them went broody. Between the 4 of them, they hatched 8 chicks. But we only managed to raise two to adulthood and one was a rooster. Hawks got the rest! They'd come snatch them practically right out from under the hen, and with me and DH and two half-grown kids within a few feet! It was so aggravating! Now we order chicks and raise them in the house.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Sorry about your little one. I wonder if you got day olds and slipped them under if she would accept them? Maybe worth a try but if she don't then it's more workload for you.
Congrats also...

 

[SheppFamilyFlock]

Sorry about your little one. I wonder if you got day olds and slipped them under if she would accept them? Maybe worth a try but if she don't then it's more workload for you.
Congrats also...

I thought about that, we have 8 chicks inside the house in the brooder right now, they're 3 weeks old. We stuck eggs in the incubator just days before the hen went broody, we thought why not let her hatch a few just so we could experience it I'm not sure which way I prefer! It's nice to not have to do any work but heart wrenching to have them all die

 

[SheppFamilyFlock]

Raising chicks is not for the faint of heart. A few years back we had Buff Orpingtons. I think we had 8 and 4 of them went broody. Between the 4 of them, they hatched 8 chicks. But we only managed to raise two to adulthood and one was a rooster. Hawks got the rest! They'd come snatch them practically right out from under the hen, and with me and DH and two half-grown kids within a few feet! It was so aggravating! Now we order chicks and raise them in the house.

I was worried about hawks! I've seen them snatching pigeons out of the barn right near the chicken run... So far they haven't been an issue for the chickens but chicks are much easier to grab.

Inside the house definitely feels safer, but it was nice to not have to do any of the work

 

[Mrs. K]

Ugh! a tough one, but you are right, you are greiving more than the hen.

In my experience, brooding is a two way street. An interaction between the chick and hen. People often blame the hen, when really the chick does not make the connection.

Putting out 3 week old chicks will do nothing and she may attack them. If you had slipped them under her, just as they hatched in the dead of night, she probably would have taken them. They really can't count.

Three things happen - when a hen goes broody - she has the trance, stays nearly motionless on the nest.

As the eggs hatch - that movement underneath her, flips the hormones, from trance to active mothering.

Then somewhere between 3-5 weeks, and I think it is again dependent on the chicks - that mothering stops and they forget their chicks.

So - with no chicks - no movement underneath her - I think she will be laying sooner than later. Just waiting is all you can do.

As for loosing them, it is a bit tougher out in the real world, but I do think you get healthier, stronger chicks. I have chicks that hatched last week under a mama, and they are out exploring the world and eating bugs she catches, not stuck in a brooder box.

However, I have raised mine both ways - and I wish you the best of luck on your own new one.

Mrs K