Chick hatched but died soon after... why? (warning, photo)

[maddogdodge]

I have a hen who was sitting on 5 eggs... 3 hatched out yesterday (a day late) the 4th pipped at about mid-day and had just broken out of the egg at about 6pm, but was still all wet and mostly sitting in the shell. I left it to figure things out on its own as they usually are fine.

Went to check them this morning however and found my hen had ditched the nest and the 4th chick was laying dead in the nest, still half in the shell and wet (and the 5th egg cold with no sign of hatching). At first I just assumed the hen must have ditched the nest before this chick was ready and it got cold... but when I removed the chick, it fell out of its shell and I saw it's back end looks very strange... I've never really closely looked at freshly hatched chicks... is this what they usually look like or is there something wrong with this chick??

 

[theuglychick]

I have a hen who was sitting on 5 eggs... 3 hatched out yesterday (a day late) the 4th pipped at about mid-day and had just broken out of the egg at about 6pm, but was still all wet and mostly sitting in the shell. I left it to figure things out on its own as they usually are fine.

Went to check them this morning however and found my hen had ditched the nest and the 4th chick was laying dead in the nest, still half in the shell and wet (and the 5th egg cold with no sign of hatching). At first I just assumed the hen must have ditched the nest before this chick was ready and it got cold... but when I removed the chick, it fell out of its shell and I saw it's back end looks very strange... I've never really closely looked at freshly hatched chicks... is this what they usually look like or is there something wrong with this chick??

View attachment 1148662

It looks like the chick hadn't fully absorbed the yolk sac completely. When they don't completely absorb it they usually die of infection or yolk sac rupture.

The chic may have died from that or the mom could have known he wasn't thriving and would most likely not survive, like the other chicks, and went ahead and hopped off with the healthy chicks.

Sorry for the loss. I hope the new babies are doing well!

 

[maddogdodge]

It looks like the chick hadn't fully absorbed the yolk sac completely. When they don't completely absorb it they usually die of infection or yolk sac rupture.

The chic may have died from that or the mom could have known he wasn't thriving and would most likely not survive, like the other chicks, and went ahead and hopped off with the healthy chicks.

Sorry for the loss. I hope the new babies are doing well!

Thanks for your reply! First time I've ever seen something like this, so good to have an answer for what happened! Is there anything that would cause this to happen?

The hen is a first time mum, doing well so far, the 3 living chicks are also doing great
They are Bantam Australorps.

 

[elaineinspain]

Thanks for your reply! First time I've ever seen something like this, so good to have an answer for what happened! Is there anything that would cause this to happen?

The hen is a first time mum, doing well so far, the 3 living chicks are also doing great
They are Bantam Australorps.

View attachment 1148677 View attachment 1148678

congratulations on your new arrivals! I also had a chick that hatched and died immediately after. She was the only chick that hatched from a clutch of 5 being brooded by a first time 18month old Orpington. She seemed to get over it quicker than I did!!!

 

[maddogdodge]

congratulations on your new arrivals! I also had a chick that hatched and died immediately after. She was the only chick that hatched from a clutch of 5 being brooded by a first time 18month old Orpington. She seemed to get over it quicker than I did!!!

This is the first time I've ever had something like this happen. Been breeding chickens every spring/summer (just as a hobby) for 4 years now. I've had a couple of chicks die, but nothing like this before!

 

[theuglychick]

When chicks hatch, it's kind of perfectly orchestrated and is designed to take a long time for a reason.

The pushing, struggling, and breathing that goes on during the lengthy process actually helps draw in the blood supply from the surrounding membrane and draw in the yolk sac as well.

The unabsorbed yolk sac is most commonly seen with assisted hatches that occurred too early or were too "assisted", due to someone jumping in and assisting too soon or too much. It is the reason people say DO NOT assist unless you absolutely have to (well this and the potential of rupturing a membrane blood vessel and risking the chick bleeding to death) (not saying that's what happened here) but it's also one of those things that can just happen.

Sometimes due to weak shells, or a burst of energy too soon, or whatever reason they come out too easily or too early and the yolk sac is just not absorbed.

How is mama and the other babies doing?

This is the first time I've ever had something like this happen. Been breeding chickens every spring/summer (just as a hobby) for 4 years now. I've had a couple of chicks die, but nothing like this before!

 

[maddogdodge]

When chicks hatch, it's kind of perfectly orchestrated and is designed to take a long time for a reason.

The pushing, struggling, and breathing that goes on during the lengthy process actually helps draw in the blood supply from the surrounding membrane and draw in the yolk sac as well.

The unabsorbed yolk sac is most commonly seen with assisted hatches that occurred too early or were too "assisted", due to someone jumping in and assisting too soon or too much. It is the reason people say DO NOT assist unless you absolutely have to (well this and the potential of rupturing a membrane blood vessel and risking the chick bleeding to death) (not saying that's what happened here) but it's also one of those things that can just happen.

Sometimes due to weak shells, or a burst of energy too soon, or whatever reason they come out too easily or too early and the yolk sac is just not absorbed.

How is mama and the other babies doing?

Thanks for explaining that

Mum and chicks are going great!

 

[ronott1]

Thanks for your reply! First time I've ever seen something like this, so good to have an answer for what happened! Is there anything that would cause this to happen?

The hen is a first time mum, doing well so far, the 3 living chicks are also doing great
They are Bantam Australorps.

View attachment 1148677 View attachment 1148678

Yes, this happens quite often.
Beautiful Mom and chicks!

 

[theuglychick]

Thanks for explaining that

Mum and chicks are going great!

So glad they are all doing well!

There's not many things more rewarding and relaxing than watching a good broody mama and her biddies

 

[maddogdodge]

So glad they are all doing well!

There's not many things more rewarding and relaxing than watching a good broody mama and her biddies

100% agree! Spent way too long this afternoon just watching them