Baby chick dying?!

Mhassnae

Chirping
Joined
Jul 28, 2019
Messages
12
Reaction score
72
Points
89
Location
Casablanca
Greetings everyone!

I am so glad I stumbled upon this forum when I did, I need help desperately.

I am new at this whole egg hatching business (2nd time I am doing it) and I have experienced quite a few issues with the process this 2nd time (first time went amazingly well, all 70 eggs hatched & all chicks were and are very healthy).

My most urgent request now concerns a 2-day old chick that's been born with & into problems: hatched too soon on Friday morning (I think) with its umbilical cord & yolk sac attached, it bursted it with it leg & it started oozing yolk & blood. I checked for info here (that's how I stumbled on BYC) and tied a dental string on it, it dried up pretty quickly and I've managed to remove 95% of it, with no apparent signs of infection so far. The chick ate once, wouldn't drink, I've given it some sugary water with a tiny syringe & it was doing great until this evening (it's monday 02:05 am here). It won't move, won't open its eyes, when I carry it in my hand, its head keeps wobbling and it either falls to the back or to the front, it seems to be having difficulty breathing, it shakes at time as if it were having a seizure. It also makes a weird sound when breathing & it opens its beak from time to time as if gasping for air (at times I hear a faint popping sound).
About an hour ago, it vomitted the water I gave it (about 10 drops), it started having bubbles around its beak. I've put it in a warm spot, separated from all the other chicks I have currently. I am not sure what to do at this point, I am absolutely helpless it is making me cry!
If anybody has any tip, please help! thank you so very much

EDIT: I checked for all the usual issues chicks have but I can't really tell what's wrong with this little one. It doesn't have a pasty butt &, although it mainly consumed sugary water & maybe two pinches of its feed, it pooped twice & the poop was fine & normal.

P.S. I would take it to a vet in the morning but I live in Morocco & vets here care more about money than anything else & the very few who are decent don't have any experience with chicks (I called a dozen today who said they couldn't help). Also, being moroccan, english isn't my first language so apologies in advance if I wrote anything crazy.
 
Last edited:
You have done a splendid job with the language, better than many native English speakers. I am not pleased to be telling you that euthanasia is likely the best choice in this chick's circumstance. When a chick hatches presenting one outward sign of genetic defects, there are often more hidden inside the chick's body.

The symptoms you describe are those of a dying chick. I wish I could manufacture some hope for you and a treatment to follow that has promise of success, but I can't.

My recommendation is to end it quickly for your little chick so it need not suffer.
 
You have done a splendid job with the language, better than many native English speakers. I am not pleased to be telling you that euthanasia is likely the best choice in this chick's circumstance. When a chick hatches presenting one outward sign of genetic defects, there are often more hidden inside the chick's body.

The symptoms you describe are those of a dying chick. I wish I could manufacture some hope for you and a treatment to follow that has promise of success, but I can't.

My recommendation is to end it quickly for your little chick so it need not suffer.

I am sorry to tell you that usually went the unabsorbed sac busts it does not end well.
I don't think there is anything you can do.

Thank you for the quick feedback, really appreciate it
That's what I was fearing. This is so sad. Two others were in the same state & are doing amazingly well now (one even had a massively bleeding navel but I managed to stop). This is honestly breaking my heart and I don't think I will have the power to kill it.
God, this is really horrible.
 
Thank you for the quick feedback, really appreciate it
That's what I was fearing. This is so sad. Two others were in the same state & are doing amazingly well now (one even had a massively bleeding navel but I managed to stop). This is honestly breaking my heart and I don't think I will have the power to kill it.
God, this is really horrible.
:hugs:hugs
It's a horrible situation, I know first hand. You don't have to kill it. But cutting its head off with scissors will end it's suffering quickly.
 
And if that seems too gruesome, do a search on euthanasia methods. One that appeals to me is shutting the chick in a cozy enclosure with ether. I’ve never done it and I don’t remember all the details, but you can find information on it here.

My heart goes out to you. But this little darling isn’t going to make it.

:hugs
 
:hugs:hugs
It's a horrible situation, I know first hand. You don't have to kill it. But cutting its head off with scissors will end it's suffering quickly.

And if that seems too gruesome, do a search on euthanasia methods. One that appeals to me is shutting the chick in a cozy enclosure with ether. I’ve never done it and I don’t remember all the details, but you can find information on it here.

My heart goes out to you. But this little darling isn’t going to make it.

:hugs

Thank you for your kind words & feedback :hugs

I'll try to see if there's anything I can manage the courage to do. If not, I'll just wake my father & ask him to do it. I don't want that poor baby suffering anymore :(:(
 
I have been there sweety. Not all babies make it. It is heart breaking i know. Ive cried about losing chicks, but this is part of nature. If you cant than dont. nature will take its course. Do not blame yourself, you did more than most would in this situation and it sounds like you did an amazing job. I have no doubt it has lived this long only due to your care. But know that this one needs to go to a better place and the others need your care as well. Im so sorry about your situation.
 
The poor thing passed about 30 mn ago. I couldn't bring myself to do anything to it, just kept it warm & cozy & it didn't seem to suffer a lot? It just opened its eyes & went limp immediately. I am praying it was a peaceful & painless death :(

And welcome to the flock! Sorry it is under such circumstances. Post a thread in the introductions, so folks can welcome you and show you around.

:welcome

Thank you very much :) :hugs
They are sad circumstances indeed but at least I get to learn from all of you for the remaining chicks & for the upcoming hatches, that way we'll never have to see another fluff ball suffer in any way hopefully.

I have been there sweety. Not all babies make it. It is heart breaking i know. Ive cried about losing chicks, but this is part of nature. If you cant than dont. nature will take its course. Do not blame yourself, you did more than most would in this situation and it sounds like you did an amazing job. I have no doubt it has lived this long only due to your care. But know that this one needs to go to a better place and the others need your care as well. Im so sorry about your situation.

Thank you so much for these kind words. It really helps. :hugs
I know it's part of nature & that these things happen, yet I can't help but think that it was maybe something we did wrong that messed everything, especially since a lot of things happened this time (I think we shouldn't have followed the instructions of the machine regarding the heat when they started hatching, as it has been very, very hot here & all the chicks hatched prematurely. I'll need to investigate a bit more in the appropriate sections).

I am glad I get to learn from such an amazing community and look forward to raising happy & healthy chickens.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom