Chicks swelling with water when hatched---one dead :(

[rockin_chick32]

I have hatched chicks many times, always at 99.5 degrees and at 50% humidity the first 18 days, then 70% the last few days. I have NEVER had a problem like this...

They hatched 3 days early, all with bloated, translucent, bubbly skin. One has died from water in it's lungs! I don't see what I did wrong

Will they revive from this condition? And is there anything I can do?

Thanks!

 

[AK_Button_Mama]

I have never heard of this. I will be watching this thread for more info... I have to tell you though that aI am hearing lots of WIERD occurances with chickens and quail and the like this year!

 

[Windy Ridge]

Possibly mushy chick disease--it involves swelling and edema. Poor babies.

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/203800.htm

http://books.google.com/books?id=Kr...num=2#v=onepage&q=mushy chick swollen&f=false

 

[rockin_chick32]

The swelling has gone down quite a bit in all of the chicks. They seem like normal little chicks now, but I am still keeping a close eye on them.

One tried to hatch late last night and was 6 days early (put in later than the others)---it had what looked like egg whites running out of the pipped hole, was foaming at the mouth, and with a LOT of blood coming from the shell. It is still alive after 12 long fighting hours, but we are keeping our fingers crossed for the poor thing. I don't think it is going to make it.

Ever hear of something like that?

 

[shuizar209]

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. Keep us updated.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

What was the humidity in your incubator?

 

[rockin_chick32]

It was 47-50 percent from day 1-18, then 67-70 percent the last days... Never had a problem like this before using this humidity.

The chick just died from water in her lungs like the other. She was acting like the rest, then 3 minutes later she was dead. I picked her up and she spat water up.

Rest are great, running around, pecking each others toes, and doing "chick stuff". No more problems except newest one wont stop crying for no visible causes that I am aware of.

 

[dancingbear]

The weather has been weird all over this year. I think it's affected the hatches for many people. It's possible that the ambient humidity in you area was different this time, from what it usually is.

In my area, south central KY, it's usually humid in the summer. My eggs hatch best with humidity around 45% the first 18 days, then no higher than 60%. Above 60%, they start getting sticky or slimy. 55%-60%, mine hatch just damp, and pop right out with no sticking to the shells.

The ambient humidity in the room where my 'bator lives, is usually higher than the humidity inside the 'bator. This allows me to open the 'bator during the last three days with no harm, as I won't lose any humidity.

67-70% seems too high to me, but you say it's always been this way before with no problem? Are you sure your hygrometer hasn't gone haywire? Maybe it was even higher than you think. Water-logged chicks would indicate too much humidity, I'd think.

 

[chubbydog811]

I had the same problem with the foamy pip and then dying after...That only ever happened to my sexlink cross eggs...I found that those eggs needed a lower humidity than my leghorn eggs - I usually run my leghorns around 40% the first 18, then 70-80% the last 3...I had 100% hatch rates many many times because of it...But then I started setting those brown eggs. After I killed a whole bunch, I found that they needed their humidity around 60% to be able to make it out...Your foamy thing might be like my situation....

 

[Germaine_11.20]

What chicks are you hatching?