[Fifitrix]

Hi there

Been a while since I've been here.  I was wondering if any of you have any thoughts for me on this subject. 

I've just sat a  8 month old broody on some eggs (bought by mail order).  3 hatched fine & broody seemed to be doing a very good job as a mum. A week later, all three are dead.  I opened up the place where they were living & one was dead, within an hour I found the 'mum' pecking another one which we bought inside warmed up and put back when it seemed perky, within an hour it was dead.  The next day the last one was dead.

So my question is - what/did I do anything wrong?  Was it the broody who killed them? i.e. was she too young?  Is it common for them to drop down dead like that.

I've hatched chicks before but am just trying to learn lessons for next time so any advice would be gratefully received.

[themagicaltoad1]

Were you giving them chick crumbs? How was mum behaving with them previously? We had 2 broody hens turn on their chicks but that happened as soon as they hatched, and the hens certainly would have killed them if we'd not rescued them. If your broody had been looking after them for the first week it seems odd that she's turned on them. Sorry I can't be of more help.