Baby Chick

**BeyondFrugal** · 06-21-2007, 03:45 PM

One of my broody's cluch has hatched, I think. I checked under her a while ago (she's been on the nest for about 4 weeks) and I thought an egg had broken. I felt around and realized it was a chick, still partially in the shell. It's not moving, but I think I felt a heartbeat. It's right underneath her.

This is my first hen to sit on a nest so it all new to me. Do the babies look dead at first? Is it resting? I'm just a very worried hen mother. Can a hen be dumb enough to squash her babies?

I'd appreciate anyone with chicken experience to tell me whatever they know.
Thanks.

-Elaine

**BeyondFrugal** · 06-22-2007, 11:48 AM

Anyone? Opinions? Wild guesses?

-Elaine

**Darlene** · 06-22-2007, 12:24 PM

This site might be able to help you Elaine, these people know their chickens.

http://poultryone.com/forum/

Our sister site too~ www.homesteadgarden.com

**BeyondFrugal** · 06-22-2007, 06:29 PM

Thanks, Darlene.

I guess it was a dumb question to begin with. I was just hoping against hope. I'm sure the poor little thing is a goner, there's no peeping sound, just a bad smell. Oh well, hopefully the other eggs will hatch okay.

-Elaine

**redmaples** · 06-22-2007, 07:18 PM

hey elaine,
eggs take 21 days to hatch,
4 weeks is too long
the bad smell is not a good sign.
everytime we have new chicks they are peeping & noisy so
it's obvious that they are there.
I always get very excited when my hens are setting
& go in to check the eggs ...usually before the 21 days
you can put an egg to your ear & hear the chick moving around
'pipping' on the inside of the shell.
Most of the time, the eggs that have no sound do not hatch, maybe
the chick didn't develop all the way or the egg was never fertilized.
the first time we had chicks incubating the natural way
we candled the eggs. this is looking inside with a light ...
if you google this it will explain the method.

what kind of chickens have you got?
My chickens are the frequent subject in my blog.

**BeyondFrugal** · 06-22-2007, 11:40 PM

Red, thanks for the info, especially being able to hear them.

They are Rhode island reds and New Hampshire reds. The broody one is a Rhodie. I have read that Rhodies don't go broody as often as fuller feathered breeds and I was soooo excited that it had finally happened. Now I'm crushed. Oh well, can't win them all.

I'll check out your blog, thanks.

-Elaine