- Jul 16, 2010
- 211
- 4
- 99
Hi all.
I have a little silkie x standard chick that just hatched. It was brooded under the mama silkie, and the set date was March 4. My eggs always tend to hatch late. The silkies are just about a year old, so maybe it's inexperience and the eggs chill.
Anyway, this chick pipped and had a section of the shell removed yesterday evening. I checked when I got home from work today, about 22 hours later, and there had been no progress. A couple of ants came out of the shell. I thought the chick had died, but it started moving. So I brought it in, warmed it up (mama let it get cold and we're having a freakish cold spell). The mebrane was dried so I moistened it with warm water and started removing the shell in bits. Even with 90% of the shell removed, the membrane was mostly intact and the chick was trying but could not break through. I finally tore the membrane. In the process I killed another 6 ants that came out.
Chick is warming, and trying to stand. Peeping loudly off and on. Opening his eyes. He passed a green poop. I have a laser thermometer and he is regulating his body temp well it seems. I don't have a brooder and the best I can get the box he's in is about 92 degrees. His body temp is around 96.
The ants seem to have bitten him mostly on one hip. I'm MAINLY wondering if having ants biting such a small, young chick are likely to overwhelm him with toxins, and what I might do?
He's about an hour out of the shell, and holding up his head, waving his wings, walking (lurching) in small circles. Mostly lying down. He seems exhausted. He's just now starting to stand. But since he came out of the shell, seems stronger by the minute. I've never caught chicks quite this young, as I let broodies do my hatching. I'm not used to watching their first hour, so I hope he's normal.
I'm planning to keep the chick in the house under a light tonight since it's already dark in the coop. Mama has five other chicks that are all a few days old (standards) plus another silky x that hatched yesterday. It took so long hatching, I'm thinking this chick might benefit from food and water sooner than usual, and not having to compete with robust nestmates and deal with a very cold night besides. Hopefully she will accept this one with the others tomorrow, and hopefully the chick will be stronger.
Any advice on the antbites, or if my plan sounds wrong, or anything I've overlooked, is much appreciated.
(btw, there was no bleeding with the membrane or hatch, if that matters. Some old blood stains on the shell fragments, but no blood now.)
I have a little silkie x standard chick that just hatched. It was brooded under the mama silkie, and the set date was March 4. My eggs always tend to hatch late. The silkies are just about a year old, so maybe it's inexperience and the eggs chill.
Anyway, this chick pipped and had a section of the shell removed yesterday evening. I checked when I got home from work today, about 22 hours later, and there had been no progress. A couple of ants came out of the shell. I thought the chick had died, but it started moving. So I brought it in, warmed it up (mama let it get cold and we're having a freakish cold spell). The mebrane was dried so I moistened it with warm water and started removing the shell in bits. Even with 90% of the shell removed, the membrane was mostly intact and the chick was trying but could not break through. I finally tore the membrane. In the process I killed another 6 ants that came out.
Chick is warming, and trying to stand. Peeping loudly off and on. Opening his eyes. He passed a green poop. I have a laser thermometer and he is regulating his body temp well it seems. I don't have a brooder and the best I can get the box he's in is about 92 degrees. His body temp is around 96.
The ants seem to have bitten him mostly on one hip. I'm MAINLY wondering if having ants biting such a small, young chick are likely to overwhelm him with toxins, and what I might do?
He's about an hour out of the shell, and holding up his head, waving his wings, walking (lurching) in small circles. Mostly lying down. He seems exhausted. He's just now starting to stand. But since he came out of the shell, seems stronger by the minute. I've never caught chicks quite this young, as I let broodies do my hatching. I'm not used to watching their first hour, so I hope he's normal.
I'm planning to keep the chick in the house under a light tonight since it's already dark in the coop. Mama has five other chicks that are all a few days old (standards) plus another silky x that hatched yesterday. It took so long hatching, I'm thinking this chick might benefit from food and water sooner than usual, and not having to compete with robust nestmates and deal with a very cold night besides. Hopefully she will accept this one with the others tomorrow, and hopefully the chick will be stronger.
Any advice on the antbites, or if my plan sounds wrong, or anything I've overlooked, is much appreciated.
(btw, there was no bleeding with the membrane or hatch, if that matters. Some old blood stains on the shell fragments, but no blood now.)
