Most of my babies hatched right on time on Friday, starting early in the morning. Saturday we woke up around noon and one chick had pipped through and looked like it had been pipped already for quite a few hours. Around 10pm last night it had made no progress and was cheeping somewhat desperately. I took her out and gingerly, so gingerly, started helping her zip with a small pair of cosmetic scissors. I put her back in. Nothing happened, so an hour later I started taking more shell off. Put her back. Nothing. Finally I took almost the entire shell off, save the half underneath her. Thought for sure she would get out, but this morning she was still very much alive and chirping and stuck. By now the shell is stuck on her so I took a sponge and softly got the membrane wet and spent 20 minutes getting it off her, probably more. After all the shell is off I see that her head was stuck to her stomach by matted hair. That was gut wrenching, trying to seperate them without hurting her and not knowing if she was deformed or if it was just stuck there, thankfully it was just stuck there. I was finally able (after Q tipping with warm water) to cut the hair that was tying her head down. It was a very intense process. I could never be a surgeon! Her one leg is totally fine, her other foot is turned in a bit. She is getting around now and sitting on her butt. Her eyes are finally opening. She is chirping a LOT. She is the only one in the bator at this point, all the other chicks are in the brooder. I have been whistling and talking to her to keep her from feeling too lonely.
What should I do? I dont think she is in pain or has anything severely wrong. How long do you guys give it, anyone have anything they can recommend I do for her? Should I just leave her now and see what happens?
If she gets worse we will decapitate her. That is what we have decided to do if we get a sick chick. Quick and painless for them, traumatic for me. I really hope she pulls through, it was breaking my heart getting her out of the shell, thinking maybe I should just leave her since she wasnt strong enough to get out on her own... but I couldnt just stand by and not help as she chirped and chirped for help. I thought she would be deformed and unable to walk. She is currently hobbling around the bator and tipping over but she has only been out for an hour. Has anyone had chicks like this, and what did you do??? Are her chances good since she is walking around? IF she has a bum foot, can she grow up to be okay?? My worry is that she will not be able to support her own weight... how long do I wait?
ETA: Also- The incubator got accidentally unplugged last night around 6pm until 8pm and the temp dropped to 75, and the cord got unplugged AGAIN for I think 45 minutes right before this picture was taking and the temp dropped down to 90. Not good, we need a longer extension cord
***For anyone who ever has to get a chick out, I cannot stress enough how gingerly you must do this, you must constantly check you are not about to snip or remove anything that has a vein in it or anything delicate. It is a painstaking process to make sure you do it right. Be so careful!! I do the shell first and then carefully remove the membrane***
What should I do? I dont think she is in pain or has anything severely wrong. How long do you guys give it, anyone have anything they can recommend I do for her? Should I just leave her now and see what happens?
If she gets worse we will decapitate her. That is what we have decided to do if we get a sick chick. Quick and painless for them, traumatic for me. I really hope she pulls through, it was breaking my heart getting her out of the shell, thinking maybe I should just leave her since she wasnt strong enough to get out on her own... but I couldnt just stand by and not help as she chirped and chirped for help. I thought she would be deformed and unable to walk. She is currently hobbling around the bator and tipping over but she has only been out for an hour. Has anyone had chicks like this, and what did you do??? Are her chances good since she is walking around? IF she has a bum foot, can she grow up to be okay?? My worry is that she will not be able to support her own weight... how long do I wait?
ETA: Also- The incubator got accidentally unplugged last night around 6pm until 8pm and the temp dropped to 75, and the cord got unplugged AGAIN for I think 45 minutes right before this picture was taking and the temp dropped down to 90. Not good, we need a longer extension cord
***For anyone who ever has to get a chick out, I cannot stress enough how gingerly you must do this, you must constantly check you are not about to snip or remove anything that has a vein in it or anything delicate. It is a painstaking process to make sure you do it right. Be so careful!! I do the shell first and then carefully remove the membrane***
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