Chick hatching, still has some yolk not absorbed

[FluffHoarder]

A chick just hatched and some of the yolk hasn’t absorbed yet, it’s still attached to the shell. The chick is super active and keeps trying to get the shell off, should I let it get the shell off or find a way for it to stay attached to the shell a bit longer? Please help

 

[Isaac 0]

Could you post a picture of the chick?

Best thing would be to leave the chick in the shell, but set her/and the shell in a small cup lined with dry paper towels, and leave her be so she can absorb the rest of the yolk. What is the temp, and humidity in your incubator?

 

[FluffHoarder]

Not an incubator, a hen. The hen decided she didn’t want to sit on the nest anymore so I had to move her hatching eggs under a heat lamp. You can’t exactly see it but the chick still has some unabsorbed yolk. I did what you said and put her in a small cup so she can’t move around

 

[Isaac 0]

Great.

Keep her under their, and let her absorb the rest of the yolk. If she pulls through, and absorbs the yolk, it may be wise to dab a little bit of an antibacterial ointment over her navel area once its fully absorbed to help prevent infection. Vitamins in her water thereafter may be good too.

 

[FluffHoarder]

Okay, thank you for the help. Will she act completely normal after this? Nothing I should keep an eye on?

 

[Isaac 0]

Okay, thank you for the help. Will she act completely normal after this? Nothing I should keep an eye on?

It all depends. In my experience, they tend to be really sluggish/lethargic a few days after. Since the navel area is being exposed to bacteria you want to occasionally check to make sure an infection is not occuring.

 

[FluffHoarder]

How long will it take the yolk to dry out? It’s not much, just like the last bit of of

 

[Isaac 0]

How long will it take the yolk to dry out? It’s not much, just like the last bit of of

I can't see how much is left, so I can't accurately give you a time estimate.

 

[FluffHoarder]

The chick has now completely absorbed it’s yolk and is moving around and cheeping