Assisted button quail hatch

[ButtonBag]

I helped my first button chick out of her shell a couple of hours ago thanks to @Nabiki 's advice, as she'd had a lot of trouble unzipping. I had to open the incubator three times unfortunately, once to pop the top of the shell off, again when I noticed there was still some tough membrane stopping her getting out, and once more quickly to help unstick half the shell from her neck (which I probably should have just left alone looking back).

She's now rolling around and chirping non-stop, but has her wing stuck to her neck with hardened membrane. I know I probably (definitely) shouldn't open it up again, especially as another egg has pipped, but I wanted to make sure it won't hurt her development or cause her to die from exhaustion as she's just been rolling around crying for the last hour and can't really balance to walk because of her wing?

I also wanted to check that I should take her out the incubator no longer than 12 hours after she had zipped half way and "should" have hatched? Sorry for all the worrying and questions, I've just always had such good advice here and wanted to run it by you all!

 

[AltonaAcres]

What I would do: remove her. Help unstick her wing. put her in the warm brooder (you don't don't want her rolling the other eggs around) She will be ok even if she's not completely dry. None of my babies are ever dry when I take them out. Just be sure to put her straight into the warmth so she doesn't get chilled.

 

[Nabiki]

I put a paper towel in the incubator and put a pipette of water onto it when I open the incubator. This brings humidity back up fast.

 

[ButtonBag]

That's a great idea, thanks for the tips both of you! I'll get her out into the brooder now then.

 

[ButtonBag]

She's in the brooder now, she keeps opening her beak and shaking, it looks a bit like shivering but she even does it under the hottest part of the heat lamp. She isn't moving around so well yet so can't really move to other parts. Would it be good to try giving her some vitamin drops?

Update: she stopped shivering after a bit and is moving around slightly better. Haven't gotten her to eat or drink yet though.

 

[Nabiki]

They can go up to 24 hours without food or water, but I always offer some immediately. Some start eating and drinking right away, others take a while. The first one I usually have to dip the beak in the water and tap at the food to teach them. Once one figures it out, it will usually teach the rest.

 

[ButtonBag]

Thanks Nabiki. I've just been tapping at the food whenever she's awake and dipped her beak in the water a couple of times but no interest in either yet. I have another egg that's been externally pipped for about 5 hours now, so here's hoping she'll have a friend tomorrow.

 

[ButtonBag]

We've had 3 more hatch and the one I had to help is still doing okay. One of the new ones keeps opening its beak and shaking its head. I did dip its beak in water not long ago, could that be the reason? It's also been fairly lethargic since hatching.

 

[ButtonBag]

This same chick stopped shaking its head, but has remained quite lethargic and just produced a gooey bright yellow poop with a dark blob inside.

None of the others have pooped yet, and this is their second day in the brooder. I couldn't spot any pasty butt or anything abnormal but they're very tricky to handle so it's hard to see their vents.

How long does it normally take new chicks to poop for the first time, and should I be worried about the gooey yellow one?

 

[Nabiki]

How soon they poop can vary. Anywhere from a few hours to a full day after hatch. I'd worry because it's lethargic. Do you have Nutri-Drench or Save-a-chick? If you do, I'd try giving a drop or two (I usually mix it with some water).