Chick can't stand

[stacemck]

I have a friend who for personal reasons couldn't finish an incubation, because they were already at day 15 she didn't want to just turn off the incubator so she asked if I wanted them. i had just hatch out Pekins and Frizzles, so I cleaned my incubator and put hers in.

They all began hatching a couple of days ago and all but one have finished hatching (the last one is doing fine, has only just pipped) one of the chicks won't stand, it keeps flopping on its side. The chick appeared to hatch normally and had a tiny bubble of yolk sac left so I left it in the incubator. Then all of a sudden it looked like the yolk sac was completely coming back out. I didn't know what to do and everything on the net was saying leave it, it will drop off, so I did and it did, It kinda popped and then fell off. I sprayed some betadine on it and once it had dried and all the other chicks couldn't wait in the incubator any longer (cause of the late to the show hatcher) I quickly took them all out and closed it back up.

All of the chicks except two were standing and doing well, one wasn't I gave it some electrolytes and it is up and running around and then there is this one which is throwing itself on its side. I have given small amounts of chick-saver but doesn't seem to be getting better. It just lies directly under the heat lamp.

I have had to separate it from the others by placing a small box inside of the brooder, it can still move away from the light but it screams as soon as the light is of it.

Im wondering if maybe this is an umbilical infection. There is no discharge or anything but the chick isn't well. She also kicks her legs a lot and when placed upright she kicks out and immediately falls back tot he same side never the other side.

What should I do?

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm guessing this is one of those chicks which is destined to fail. When you consider the process of incubation, and all that goes into it, it's truly amazing that any of them hatch without issues. You can leave this little chick alone, and let time be the deciding factor, or if you are inclined, you can euthanize it. There is no one size fits all answer here. I wish there was. I also wish you the best. It's hard to put so much of yourself into a hatch, and have to watch a less than optimal outcome.

 

[stacemck]

Thank you I ended up euthanising, it was the hardest thing to do but it began twitching like it was seizing and it had been crying too much so I thought it must have been in pain. So about an hour ago I took care of it very kindly and I'm sure it appreciated it instead of me letting it linger.

So far this one and the twin that did hatch are the only chicks I have hatched not survive so I'm doing pretty well, the twin lived for a day and then passed not sure why just came home and she was in the corner. Any other euthanising is usually done on an older chicken and my hubby usually does it, so this was the first time I had to do it and I feel very guilty but i know I did the right thing.

 

[JulesFlock]

I'm sorry for you and the chick but I'm sure you did the most humane thing you could. It is the one thing that I am dreading about keeping chickens and I'm about to start a hatch for the first time and I am already thinking of what I would do if I was in a similar situation. Thank you for sharing the experience with us.