cleaning a chick

[gander007]

 

[drumstick diva]

She has had a rather traumatic start - all the time she was getting bathed - she would have been sleeping. Hatching is exhausting to a newborn chick. What she had is called "shrink wrapping," it's when the humidity drops too much in the incubator - usually from opening it too frequently to check on the eggs/chicks.

During all the bathing she may have ingested water that got into her lungs. Does she make any odd noises when she breathes?

If you have moved her to a brooder give her a stuffed animal to cuddle with. That should quiet her down. What temperature is it in the brooder - it may be too hot and that is why she is running around a lot. Is she panting?

Chicks generally run around for short periods, then fall asleep, sometimes even standing up or in the middle of eating. They usually do sleep a lot for the first day or two after hatching.