Slowpoke, a Reality Check After an Assisted Hatch

Reviews a single case of deformity in a chick from an assisted hatch. Though it shows what could happen when assisting chicks, I would like to see more than one single example to consider the article informative on the subject.

Thank you for sharing and especially sharing the pictures! As much as we don’t want to believe it, it really is true what they say. There is usually a reason it’s not hatching. I interfered once…. Let’s just say the little roo lives half his life inside my house now because he just cannot be apart of the flock. It’s bittersweet. But always be grateful for the lessons learned!!

Well written. We all want the best for our flocks. Your experience will hopefully teach others that sometimes we ought to let nature take its course. But, humans are emotional being who are too often burdened by self-blame when things don’t work out to our ideal vision. The question of ‘did I cause this’ is the first one that would come to mind in anyone, so we talk ourselves into accepting complete responsibility for circumstances beyond our control.
I am glad you shared your experience. Your words “there was a reason…” I will remember these words clearly when I am faced with the urge to assist in a slow hatch.

Great info. Very insightful.
I agree, that sometimes an assisted hatch may or may not reveal additional problems that the bird may have.
This is for next time should it arise...hopefully not.
But here goes...
I have experience with hatching/breeding parrots, may I suggest,( if someone else hasn't already) that once you decide to assist in a hatch, make it easier on yourself and get a cup of some warm, sterile water and a Q-tip. Use the wet Q-tip and swab the dry membrane to make it supple enough to work with. It's very easy,(especially if you are going too fast) to pull part of a dry membrane too far, and depending on where you are in the membrane, the chick could start to bleed out. You'll be able to see inside more by folding back any soft membrane that still has active blood vessels in it without making things worse.. You'll then be able to assess, whether should you keep going, or wait a bit should, you find an unabsorbed yolk, etc.
Hope this was helpful.
Just my 2 cents.

Excellent article. Leaves plenty of data to help one consider ALL aspects of an assisted hatch.

Very educational and good to hear! I had to help a couple shrink wrapped chicks this summer while we were incubating who I helped and they are doing perfectly fine and are healthy little guys! I totally understand you pov and your experience, but a shrink wrapped chick is not always a bad thing and, as you said, not usually it's fault.

Thanks for sharing this experience!

Well written and supported article!

The story was very informative and a good realization of what can happen when hatching chicks and helping hatch. It is not applicable in all situations as sometimes chicks are just shrink wrapped and are perfectly fine otherwise but it's good to think about it before helping a chick. Also considering if you are able to care for special needs birds is important.

An interesting article about a difficult decision. Not sure if this is applicable in every instance, but it sure shows what sometimes can happen. I appreciate the pictures.

Very interesting article with the photos, the details and the follow-up on what this chick became. I don't know if assisted hatching always end like this, but I think it would be useful to read for anyone confronted to a difficult hatch so as to make an educated decision.

I found the story of this chick very interesting.

Thank you for an informative and thought-provoking article.

I once tried to help a chick that was stuck in the bottom half of its shell and abandoned when the broody gave up on it and led the rest of the clutch out of the coop, but it didn't survive the day. I hope Slowpoke has enjoyed the life you've been able to give him, but if I've understood you right, you wouldn't do an assisted hatch again, yes?

I enjoyed this article. It raises an interesting issue with regard to assisted hatching. My view in the past has been if a chick doesn't hatch or if a chick does hatch but the mother abandons the chick then I accept nature, or the mothers decision and don't interfere.
This article demonstrates the risk the keeper takes in interfering with what would seem to be natures way of ensuring that the overall health of the species is preserved.
I have read a number of threads where hatching has been assisted, sometimes the chick is reported to be healthy directly after the hatch but rarely does one get to read whether genetic problems became apparent at a later time.
Should one do it? I believe not and this article demonstrates why. However, in the end there is a human moral judgement underlying many assisted hatchings and those chicks that do lead a normal life afterwards are I dare say pleased to be alive.