Chick Couldn't Hatch

[BelovedBirds]

It was definitely ready to hatch but couldn't get out because it wasn't positioned correctly and it's beak is deformed. It was in the egg so long it had already absorbed it's yolk and was pretty dehydrated. That's why it was so skinny. It(she?) did survive but it's beak is a bit wonky. I can take pictures in the morning if you want.

that would be pretty interesting to see! I'm glad she survived, hope things work out!

 

[TundraFang]

Just wondering, is the top of it's beak kinda curved to the side and down?

Yup, it straightened out as it grew but it's still curved down a bit

 

[my gang eats grass]

Yup, it straightened out as it grew but it's still curved down a bit

I had the exact same problem a few years ago with a chick one of my hens hatched. It was smaller and thinner then all the rest, and the top of it's beak was curved down. It never got very big and it only lived for a year, never was able to figure out why.

 

[TundraFang]

Still doing okay? If you wait too long to help a 'stuck' chick, they tend to have issues gaining mobility, but this usually clears up within the first week.

Was there anything strange about this chick's development pre-hatch? Do you know if the parent stock were heavily inbred? Fluctuations in temperature, nutrition deficiency in parent stock, mishandling of eggs (in shipped eggs), setting fairy eggs... So many things that can result in a deformed or poor performing chick.

It sounds lucky to have not had congenital issues that did it in before now.

The father is a White Japanese Bantam and the mother is a Sapphire Olive Egger. I got them both from TSC so I don't know their lineage. Development looked pretty normal when I candled. She perked up a few days after hatching and seems healthy and active so far. I just moved her to the outdoor brooder with older chicks so she's been establishing her place in the pecking order. She beat up my poor Silkie cockerel already

 

[TundraFang]

I had the exact same problem a few years ago with a chick one of my hens hatched. It was smaller and thinner then all the rest, and the top of it's beak was curved down. It never got very big and it only lived for a year, never was able to figure out why.

Weird, maybe someone who knows will find this thread and give is some answers

 

[Lizzy733]

Great to hear she's thriving!