Are Newly Hatched Babies Normally Weak in Hour After Hatching?

[Barry Natchitoches]

My broody has diarrhea BAD, but she's successfully hatched two babies thus far.


She will NOT soil her nest, and so we've taken her out of her cage and put her on cardboard in a different part of the house to eat and release her diarrhea once every day. As a result, she has not gotten any diarrhea on the babies or even in the cage where she has been patiently setting on her clutch for the past three weeks.


But we're afraid that once the babies are hatched, that she might let the liquid mess out on the babies or in the area that the babies have to live in.


As a result, we've been chick-napping the babies as soon as we find them completely hatched, and putting them in a nice, clean brooder.


We've noticed that in the first hour or two they seem puney and have a hard time walking. But the older one is about eight hours old now, and she's looking pretty good. She now walks with no problem at all. The other chick, only about two hours old, is still weak and puny and can hardly walk.


Is this normal?


BTW, Ms.Broody is still sitting on three eggs. We don't know if they will hatch successfully yet.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

The can act weak for the first few hours.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I think it sounds as if they'll be okay. Mine are usually flopping in the bator drying off still in an hour.

 

[kathyinmo]

Oh yes, completely normal. As a matter of fact, mine usually sleep most of the first day or two. They worked hard, and are tired! Remember they just absorbed the yolk, so they have nutrition for 2 - 3 days. They sound fine.

Good luck! Congratulations!