Colorado

[coloradogal]

I had a chick with weak legs and curled toes, really thought the poor thing was a goner, but I let it stay on terry washcloths, not paper towels, and it is now strong and straight. I think the bumps on the wash cloth mechanically helped to straighten the toes when the little claws would grab for grip. I am guessing here, but something worked.

I had one with major splay leg and another with minor. Stupid egg carton hatches. I thought something was weird during the hatch when they didn't seem to be navigating the egg cartons.

Both have the band-aid method to keep their legs together. After only an hour or so, they are already starting to keep their legs under them. I put them both in a quieter section of the brooder.

My other chick still hasn't made any moves to hatch. I know it can because I can see it moving slightly so it isn't stuck. How long would you give it before helping it out? Or would you just leave it alone as it has the ability to breathe.

 

[Mtn Margie]

I had one with major splay leg and another with minor. Stupid egg carton hatches. I thought something was weird during the hatch when they didn't seem to be navigating the egg cartons.

Both have the band-aid method to keep their legs together. After only an hour or so, they are already starting to keep their legs under them. I put them both in a quieter section of the brooder.

My other chick still hasn't made any moves to hatch. I know it can because I can see it moving slightly so it isn't stuck. How long would you give it before helping it out? Or would you just leave it alone as it has the ability to breathe.

I helped my little one hatch after I saw no rotation and it had been over 24 since pipping. I also had an incubator/ hubby/ wireless router incident so I wasn't really sure if the chick was having human caused issues or Mother Nature issues.
The chick is smaller than the others and I won't be keeping it for breeding, but it did survive with help.

 

[coloradogal]

I helped my little one hatch after I saw no rotation and it had been over 24 since pipping. I also had an incubator/ hubby/ wireless router incident so I wasn't really sure if the chick was having human caused issues or Mother Nature issues.
The chick is smaller than the others but I won't be keeping it for breeding, but it did survive with help.

I'm concerned that if I take it out too soon, the yolk won't be absorbed and that causes it's own host of problems. It has only been maybe 12 hours since I gave it an air pocket. It doesn't appear to be shrink wrapping as I've been trying to keep the humidity up as high as I can. I guess I can give it a few more hours.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

A little light reading for all of us new hatchers. I figure anyone hatching is going to need to assist at some point.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

 

[Mtn Margie]

I have a chick that doesn't spread its outer toes all the way.. They are not curled they just don't spread it. Is this common?

Also, this morning I went to check on my chicks they were fine. I went to check again 20 minutes later and my Marans chick was laying on its back? I picked it up and it was fine.. Has any one had a chick that did this?

Think of your brooder as a Frat house on a weekend and you will be less stressed with what you see happening!

 

[kmatt87]

We didn't get any snow here. Just some wind

 

[Adam7]

Think of your brooder as a Frat house on a weekend and you will be less stressed with what you see happening!

Haha! Ok I get your point.

 

[coloradogal]

My little chick did not form all the way. It's out of its shell but in bad shape. I suspect had I not intervened, it would have left the world on its own. Now I have to help it. RIP little guy.

 

[Ataylor]

A little light reading for all of us new hatchers. I figure anyone hatching is going to need to assist at some point.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

Thank you so much for posting this! I just received my eggs yesterday and this will be my first attempt at hatching! So excited and this information was immensely helpful.

 

[Mtn Margie]

We didn't get any snow here. Just some wind

We got another 8 inches yesterday but no wind. I just spent the last hour shoveling out the chicken runs and my decks and am finally getting used to the shoveling scene again.

My little chick did not form all the way. It's out of its shell but in bad shape. I suspect had I not intervened, it would have left the world on its own. Now I have to help it. RIP little guy.

So sorry.

But at least you know what is going on instead of wondering. Sometimes that helps......