Assisted hatch peachick not doing good...help.

[RubyNala97]

I assisted a wrong side pipper yesterday morning. He was positioned incorrectly in the shell. He slept most of the day with his legs/feet out to the side. I was hoping he just needed time to strengthen his legs. 2 others hatched later in the day and are now up and walking. He can't walk or put his legs out in front of him to support his body. The legs/feet are not deformed in any way. Could they be paralyzed? I checked on him over night and his head was shaking. I held him and dipped his beak in water and he drank 4 good sips. He seemed to perk up a little after that and stopped shaking. The wing he keeps laying on is floppy. But he can somehow crawl around. What can I do for him? Something is very wrong, what could it be?

 

[Ridgerunner]

A lot of the time the reason they need assistance hatching is that they are not strong enough to do it on their own. There is something wrong with them. They are just not meant to make it. I don’t hatch pea fowl, just chickens and rarely turkeys, but a lot of the ones I assist just don’t make it. Some do, but some don’t.

I know you want to try to save that one. I suggest you give it some energy. You can use sugar water, maybe get an electrolyte from the feed store, or use hummingbird liquid. Take a medicine dropper and put a few drops on the tip of its beak. It should swallow it. Don’t force it down its throat, you might drown it. Feed it these drops until it quits eating. The idea is to give it enough energy so it can start eating and drinking on its own.

I’m sorry to say I don’t feel very hopeful from what you describe but keeping it warm and getting some energy inside it will give it its best chance. I really do wish you luck.

 

[RubyNala97]

Thank you for the reply!! I have to update!! I did give him electrolyte and probiotic water when I was up with him early this morning. I went back to bed for 2 hrs. Knowing in my heart I'd wake up to him gone or having to put him down. Well boy did he prove me wrong!! He is up and walking!! He's drinking on his own and even pecking at the starter! I can't believe it!! A total 180! He has some bent wing feathers that dried up and are curled under, well that is the only way I can tell him apart now from his siblings. He's keeping right up with them. Even pecking at them. I'm really shocked!! And so greatful for this site and all of you kind people that have helped me!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Sometimes with assisted chicks they have some goop on them that dries and glues the down in spots. As long as it can move that’s not a big deal. It will wear off in a week or so.

I’ll admit I did not expect this result. That’s a good feeling isn’t it?

 

[RubyNala97]

Sometimes with assisted chicks they have some goop on them that dries and glues the down in spots. As long as it can move that’s not a big deal. It will wear off in a week or so.

I’ll admit I did not expect this result. That’s a good feeling isn’t it?

I still can't believe my eyes! I was up with him from 4:30-5am. Laid back down and was thinking of where I was going to bury him or how I'd have to put him down. I was also questioning the assist. Wondering if I should have let nature take it course in the shell. He looks like he's in the clear now. But I'm keeping an eye on him. He's the biggest of the 3. And I was going to shut down the incubator but after candling the last 2 eggs (that I thought died right before lockdown) I saw movement in one. That egg looks like it's developmentally 2 days behind the rest. Is that even possible? Btw, I've heard turkeys are tougher too. More like peas. Do you find that to be true?