Another update and more drama: The power went out at 4:30am - so I was out to the coop wrapping the brooder to keep the heat in; same with the incubator. This morning we put the brooder in the sun and got it up to the correct temperature.
The first born chick was having issues opening its eyes and since last night they've been closed. We gave it water via a dropper and noticed 'something' when it drank. A tiny worm wiggled out of its nostril! I think that flies or beetles laid eggs on the dead mother hen and this was its larva. We managed to immobilize the chick (it shook its head when the maggot was moving around) and waited, and waited and finally it poked its head out of the chick's nostril and, using a fine pair of tweezers, I was able to extricate a 1/4" maggot. I am hoping it was the only one in there as maggots usually hatch on dead bodies.
And I'm hoping the chick will open its eyes again soon. They are all motoring around now and seem quite healthy. The incubator dipped to 85f and was off for @7hrs - so who knows how those eggs will fare. Good thing I'm on staycation this week because there's been a lot of chicken drama.
I am so lost.. I am praying though!
I culled my first cockerel, now what?
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