Another new chick, another question

[Charmedlady]

Long story short, an egg hatched in my incubator (I did not help it at all, I swear!) and the chick had a little yolk and something else still attached to it. I think the yolk fell off but it still seems to have something attached to it. So my question is, I have it in a blocked off area of my incubator because I feel like it stumbling around and dragging whatever it is, on the incubator grate has to be bad? Please advise! The chick does seem very perky so far but it has only been a couple hours.

 

[sumi]

Sometimes when chicks hatch they'll have a little gunk attached to their navels with will fall off by itself within a few hours. It would help if you can post a pic of what you are seeing, but I'm guessing that is what's happening here.

 

[Charmedlady]

Ok when I posted last night it was hard for me to see exactly what it was in the incubator but he survived the night and here is a picture. Not a great one but it is like a round red ball of swollen flesh and it is right between his legs. He has his but in the air with it sticking up since he hatched. Help? Is there any chance this chick will live? He is super perky but does seem to be in distress chirping constantly.

I also forgot to add that he released greenish fluid into the incubator at like 11 pm last night.

 

[sumi]

That is it's navel and wow, that is quite a protrusion. Can I bother you for a better pic of it? It's hard to see what's going on there. Sorry!

 

[Charmedlady]

Absolutely! Thank you so much for your help! Also what do you think about the chicks release last night of the green/brown fluid in the incubator? The only other chick I have had release fluid like that died. He

[/IMG]re are some better pics of his protrusion. Any advice is appreciated, I really want him to live and I am on summer break so I have the time to nurse him healthy.

Also although his eyes are closed in the picture he is actually very alert, and I think the constant chirping was because he was thirsty. He has now had several drinks and is no longer chirping constantly and actually seems very content.

 

[sumi]

That fluid may simply have been a poop. I have seen similar poops as you described from small chicks.

The protrusion, I've blown the pic up and it looks to me like you may have an unabsorbed yolk sac there. There are two things you can do with that. Either leave it a bit longer and see if the chick absorbs it, or tie it off. I'm in two minds about which would be the best, to be honest. I wish I could examine the chick and decide. I've asked a friend of mine to have a look here and give her opinion/advice as well. I believe she has dealt with this issue before. How long has it been now (in hours) since the chick hatched?

 

[Charmedlady]

I had them in a little giant incubator (again, long story short I found a huge clutch of eggs the mom was pecking to death as they hatched so the whole incubator set up was rushed/last minute and so far I have 12 healthy chicks and this guy) and whatever the fluid was, there was enough to turn the water in a 1 inch wide and maybe 5 inch long water trough green/brown and I could see i guess what could be poop in it. It wasn't just fluid I mean, there was something else in it. Anyway, The chick started hatching yesterday morning and didn't come out of his egg until 6 or 7 last night. I could see he did have some yolk still but after about an hour all I could see was that red bubble. Then at about 11 maybe he released that fluid. I would like to avoid tying off the sac if possible, I am such an amateur in this department I would like to at least attempt to let it absorb on it's own but again, I am an amateur so please advise me of you and your friends thoughts on this. I can also post more pics if need be. Any help is so appreciated though! Again, I would really like to save him. Thank you so much.

 

[sumi]

O.K. my friend got back to me. She advices dabbing some iodine on the protrusion and give the chicks some electrolytes. It's touch and go with these little ones, but I've seen them survive, so

The most important thing is hygiene. Treat that whole navel area like a wound. Clean, sterile things and surfaces only! Chicks are very susceptible to yolk sac infections, which is usually fatal, so e very careful and keep it separated from the others.

 

[Charmedlady]

Ok. I went out, got those things and cleaned the chicks box, it has been alone already so that is good, I cleaned the wound, and mixed some electrolyte solution with water. I wasn't sure if I should dilute it or feed it straight but at least it has a little in it now. Please let me know about what ratio of electrolyte/water the chick should be drinking? Other than that I will clean it and keep it's area super clean and thank you both for all your help. But if you will please just let me know about the electrolyte and then I will hopefully be able to take it from there.

 

[sumi]

What does the instructions on the package say? The ratio I have handy says mix 1 cup electrolyte solution to a gallon water. You'll have divide that into smaller measures! What is that navel looking like now?