911 ER help with newly hatched chick.

[3riverschick]

@Wyorp Rock
@DesertChic
@azygous
@shawluvsbirds
@granny hatchet

Hi,
Well we had a humidity disaster on hatch day. I have 5 chicks in the brooder doing well. And one in the incubator. Due to the humidity problem I had to help 3 of the chicks out of there shells because they were strong but shrink-wrapped. Thank you Sally Sunshine for your great article on assisted hatching!! 2 of the three are doing fine in the brooder. The third is another problem. This chick wants to live it is strong buy very small. tiny like a bantam. The egg was small. the problem is the down. This chick is plastered with the membrane of the shell. I tried to get it off with warm water but not working.
because of this the chick cannot fluff out its down and get warm. So I am keeping in in the cabinet incubator where humidity and warmth are right for this problem. I really don't want to lose this chick. It wants to live so much. so lively. I am feeding it Poultry Nutri-Drench. Please help! How do I get this gunk off this chick?
Thank you,
karen

 

[HuskerHens18]

@casportpony @KikisGirls @Wyorp Rock Got any tips to help this little guy?

I'm wondering if Dawn dish soap would help? The kind in those commercials used for getting oil off the baby animals..

 

[3riverschick]

I think Dawn is too harsh. It is very small and only 1 day old.

 

[CSAchook]

Sorry you are having such a stressful hatch. Maybe @Pyxis or @WVduckchick can help here?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@granny hatchet you still on?

 

[3riverschick]

If it wasn't so dry I could get it off but the down is just plastered to the chick by this membrane. It still looks like a newly hatched chick, only dry.
Wyorp, you got no ideas?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I don't know how to clean that off, hopefully someone else will chime in. I too think dawn might be a bit harsh for a day old, but you never know

 

[CSAchook]

I found a few older threads where it was recommended to use just plain warm water.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/membrane-stuck-to-chick.1102829/#post-16963363
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/baby-chick-stuck-to-membrane.1091830/#post-16769437

 

[Granny Hatchet]

soft toothbrush . I used the warm water and let it hit the chick in the stream right on its back. After its dry and dont fluff its probably just needing the toothbrush

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Just an idea, could you, in a warm place (bathroom with heater on) gently dampen the membrane and remove it, like you would a dressing on a wound that was stuck? And place your chick back in the bator to warm up and dry?