chick with no top skull

[GenevieveHad]

Hi there, I had 18 eggs originally, had 5 that were viable and 4 that have hatched so far. The four that have hatched did so the day before yesterday and I have one last egg in the Bator. It had internally pipped but not externally for 24 hours, I had read and reread all the tips on assisted hatching and tried to prepare myself... so I made a little hole this morning to see if I could help it out (I know this is frowned upon, because of natural selection and whatnot but I’m a small backyard chicken keeper who doesn’t plan to breed). Anyways, I didn’t peel any of the membrane back except the one over its eye because I could see it blinking and I’m afraid the little baby doesn’t have a top skull? I didn’t further investigate because I didn’t want to hurt it... It has since made its way out. Definitely no top skull... Is there anything I can do for it? And what caused this?

 

[Kfults]

Wow! I am a new chicken keeper, so I can’t offer any advise- but will be watching for answers by more experienced folks!

 

[WVduckchick]

Can you post a pic? Depending on the severity, it may be able to close up, but it’s also quite possible that it wont survive long.

 

[GenevieveHad]

 

[WVduckchick]

Looks pretty severe to me, I’m sorry. What breed is it? Is it moving about?

Let’s see if @Pyxis has any experience with this. I’ve never seen one hatch with that much exposed before.

 

[Saaniya]

Oh my God that's seems a bit serious how's he ? Is he moving is he alive ?

I'm very worried to see him

 

[GenevieveHad]

It is... it’s an ameriflower. It’s still breathing and blinking, every once in awhile it moves its little legs. It hasn’t made it any further out of the shell and I don’t want to move it. Could it’s skull have gotten stuck to the egg?

 

[Jessica Thompson]

Oh geez the poor baby I hope he/she makes it!

 

[WVduckchick]

It is... it’s an ameriflower. It’s still breathing and blinking, every once in awhile it moves its little legs. It hasn’t made it any further out of the shell and I don’t want to move it. Could it’s skull have gotten stuck to the egg?

I doubt it got stuck. More likely it just didn't close properly. Some crested birds have these problems.
I can't really think of anything beneficial that you could do for it, except keep it away from others so they don't peck at it... and hope for the best.
You could possibly coat it with some Vaseline or antibiotic ointment. But I'd say its probably an uphill battle for the little one.

@casportpony any thoughts??

 

[GenevieveHad]

I doubt it got stuck. More likely it just didn't close properly. Some crested birds have these problems.
I can't really think of anything beneficial that you could do for it, except keep it away from others so they don't peck at it... and hope for the best.
You could possibly coat it with some Vaseline or antibiotic ointment. But I'd say its probably an uphill battle for the little one.

@casportpony any thoughts??

Should I put some gauze over it and then do you think I can use neosporin? Or should I go get Vaseline. I put the brooder next to the incubator so that it can hear the other chicks...