Hey all! So I've done a search and read through what I can find, but it isn't really helping. I was supposed to go on lockdown tonight. I had some temp issues last week, and out of the six eggs was only expecting one to come in in the next 72 hours.
So, went up to do my last candle and make sure my lil bugger was still kicking, only to find it already hatched. It had not pipped as of 10 this morning. By 5pm I had a chick. From all appearances it was a completely normal hatch: no debris out of the ordinary in the incubator. No "stuff" clinging to the chickie. It was up, bright-eyed, looking at me, peeping, and all systems go. Until I picked it up, and it's navel isn't closed.
There is no large yolk sack hanging out; no evidence there ever was. It has a bump about the size of the tip of my pinkie finger, and a hole in the external layer of skin -- if it were a horse, I'd say this is 100% a navel hernia.
I wrapped the chickie up in a super soft baby washcloth that was warm and damp, put it in a coffee mug, and stuck it back in the incubator. Although I'm not entirely certain why I'm keeping it moist given there's no... umbilicus or yolk sack hanging out. Went to dinner at a friends. Came back and just checked on the chickie--it's been a good five hours now. We're even more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, more awake, and still right as rain...only no change in the navel. I put a tiny bit of Bacitracin on it, put her back in the washcloth and back in the incubator.
So... er... what to do? I don't really have a 'rough' navel -- there's no injured tissue. I don't have a (obvious) yolk sack I'm trying to protect. But I don't want to put the chick in the shavings in the brooder and risk irritation of sub-dermal tissue. I can't really "push anything back in"... It *is* healthy as far as attitude and not showing any signs of stress, etc. Otherwise it's presenting like a "normal" chick.
Do I keep it moist? Do I dry it out -- there seems to be a range of opinions but all for situations different than this, with active tissue hanging out. Someone said something on here about chick overalls with vet wrap... I'm almost afraid to mess with it too much and interfere if nature will take its course and pull the skin back over. Although, I'm not entirely opposed to taking the chick to the chicken vet and asking him to insert a stitch or two....(my gut says this skin needs some help) but how on earth to transport over an hour?
Advice? Thoughts? It's a really beautiful chick out of a cross I was really looking forward to. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Val
So, went up to do my last candle and make sure my lil bugger was still kicking, only to find it already hatched. It had not pipped as of 10 this morning. By 5pm I had a chick. From all appearances it was a completely normal hatch: no debris out of the ordinary in the incubator. No "stuff" clinging to the chickie. It was up, bright-eyed, looking at me, peeping, and all systems go. Until I picked it up, and it's navel isn't closed.
There is no large yolk sack hanging out; no evidence there ever was. It has a bump about the size of the tip of my pinkie finger, and a hole in the external layer of skin -- if it were a horse, I'd say this is 100% a navel hernia.
I wrapped the chickie up in a super soft baby washcloth that was warm and damp, put it in a coffee mug, and stuck it back in the incubator. Although I'm not entirely certain why I'm keeping it moist given there's no... umbilicus or yolk sack hanging out. Went to dinner at a friends. Came back and just checked on the chickie--it's been a good five hours now. We're even more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, more awake, and still right as rain...only no change in the navel. I put a tiny bit of Bacitracin on it, put her back in the washcloth and back in the incubator.
So... er... what to do? I don't really have a 'rough' navel -- there's no injured tissue. I don't have a (obvious) yolk sack I'm trying to protect. But I don't want to put the chick in the shavings in the brooder and risk irritation of sub-dermal tissue. I can't really "push anything back in"... It *is* healthy as far as attitude and not showing any signs of stress, etc. Otherwise it's presenting like a "normal" chick.
Do I keep it moist? Do I dry it out -- there seems to be a range of opinions but all for situations different than this, with active tissue hanging out. Someone said something on here about chick overalls with vet wrap... I'm almost afraid to mess with it too much and interfere if nature will take its course and pull the skin back over. Although, I'm not entirely opposed to taking the chick to the chicken vet and asking him to insert a stitch or two....(my gut says this skin needs some help) but how on earth to transport over an hour?
Advice? Thoughts? It's a really beautiful chick out of a cross I was really looking forward to. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Val