On the last day of incubation, I had one chick push over the mesh basket I had for the third level. Poor baby fell about 12 inches to the floor of the bator. Luckily I saw him almost immediately, but in openning the bator to help him, I apparently was not as vigilant about the humidity as I should have been.
The next morning, another chick hatched, but was stuck by a hardened and sticky membrane. At the beginning of this hatching venture, I had promised myself that I would let nature take it's course, but when I realized the reason he was stuck was because of my intervention to begin with, I intervened and helped him get unstuck from the shell, then placed him back in the bator. After a few hours, he had not dried off, and was sticky. I bathed him and placed him in the brooder with his fellow chicks.
It soon became evident that he had issues. He would eat the crumbles before him, but he was not really walking, only waddling on his elbows. I gave him a few drops of sugar water for energy. He also was getting pasty butt, so once again I had to bathe him, but this time only his bum.
At day 3 he was still not walking, so I decided to do some Chick Therapy. I put his brother on the floor about 3 feet ahead of him, then placed a finger under his bum to support him a bit and he did it! He "walked" over. We did t, his twice, then took a break. A long chick nap was certainly alled for!
At this time, I was searching on info to cull him humanely, but I came to the realization that since I have the space and resources to give him the chance to grow, and it seemed that he only had the orthopedic issue. He does not seem to be in pain, just wobbley. If he was destined to die, he would certainly do it during the night.
The next morning however, he was still alive and waddling, but he would stand tall when he stood still, stretching his legs. A few hours later, he was walking upright, but with a stiff legged limp.
Today is day 6 and have moved all but the little limper and his paratrooper brother (no lasting effects from his fall) to a broody hen outside outside. They have the inside brooder to themselves, and water with vitamins and electrolytes. I figured it would be easier to recouperate with less craziness of running chicks.
He seems to be ok, other than still limping, he even scratches (more therapy) and fights with his brother for the best tasting crumbles!
The next morning, another chick hatched, but was stuck by a hardened and sticky membrane. At the beginning of this hatching venture, I had promised myself that I would let nature take it's course, but when I realized the reason he was stuck was because of my intervention to begin with, I intervened and helped him get unstuck from the shell, then placed him back in the bator. After a few hours, he had not dried off, and was sticky. I bathed him and placed him in the brooder with his fellow chicks.
It soon became evident that he had issues. He would eat the crumbles before him, but he was not really walking, only waddling on his elbows. I gave him a few drops of sugar water for energy. He also was getting pasty butt, so once again I had to bathe him, but this time only his bum.
At day 3 he was still not walking, so I decided to do some Chick Therapy. I put his brother on the floor about 3 feet ahead of him, then placed a finger under his bum to support him a bit and he did it! He "walked" over. We did t, his twice, then took a break. A long chick nap was certainly alled for!
At this time, I was searching on info to cull him humanely, but I came to the realization that since I have the space and resources to give him the chance to grow, and it seemed that he only had the orthopedic issue. He does not seem to be in pain, just wobbley. If he was destined to die, he would certainly do it during the night.
The next morning however, he was still alive and waddling, but he would stand tall when he stood still, stretching his legs. A few hours later, he was walking upright, but with a stiff legged limp.
Today is day 6 and have moved all but the little limper and his paratrooper brother (no lasting effects from his fall) to a broody hen outside outside. They have the inside brooder to themselves, and water with vitamins and electrolytes. I figured it would be easier to recouperate with less craziness of running chicks.
He seems to be ok, other than still limping, he even scratches (more therapy) and fights with his brother for the best tasting crumbles!
