Doomed hatch?

[Katejc]

When my silkie was broody she was SO committed! She had no eggs under her though but she pulled out all her feathers and did not move except to eat and drink for 5 mins in the morning and 5 mins at night. I just happened to have a humidifier. Good luck with your hatch!

 

[Katejc]

Update: the chick now fills up much more of the lower portion of the egg, the veins have all disappeared, and it is scratching and pecking away on the inside and I even heard some little peeps. Im going to keep a VERY close eye over the next 24 hours in case I need to assist.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm sorry, but I never assist. It usually doesn't go well and IMO, if they don't hatch on their own, they shouldn't survive. Survival of the fittest is what makes animals strong.

 

[Katejc]

I'm sorry, but I never assist. It usually doesn't go well and IMO, if they don't hatch on their own, they shouldn't survive. Survival of the fittest is what makes animals strong.

Totally a personal choice. This one had a rough go. A hen that abandoned the egg at the end and a badly displaced air sac. Im surprised that we have even gotten this far so I am going to seenit through.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I understand.

 

[Rachnicko]

I totally understand, and can see the survival of the fittest, but I think I would have assisted too.
Is there any update @Katejc?

 

[Katejc]

Yeah it didnt make it. I pulled everything apart and the veins and yolk had absorbed and everything looked good so I think it just ran out of steam. I couldnt of assisted yesterday because of the veins so I wish I had gotten up in the night to check but I dont think this little chick was going to do well. Im wondering if it was malpositioned?

 

[Finnie]

I agree with the philosophy of not assisting too. Yet that doesn’t stop me from stepping in when I see one that obviously isn’t going to make it out on its own. Those ones almost always die, but I figure, at least I tried. But, I always mark those assisted ones with a grey leg ring so I will know not to breed from them if they live. When I find a dead chick in the brooder later, I feel much better when I see that it has a grey leg ring. Means I didn’t lose one that wasn’t already doomed from the beginning.

Each time it happens, it reminds me to resolve to leave future chicks alone.

 

[Katejc]

I agree with the philosophy of not assisting too. Yet that doesn’t stop me from stepping in when I see one that obviously isn’t going to make it out on its own. Those ones almost always die, but I figure, at least I tried. But, I always mark those assisted ones with a grey leg ring so I will know not to breed from them if they live. When I find a dead chick in the brooder later, I feel much better when I see that it has a grey leg ring. Means I didn’t lose one that wasn’t already doomed from the beginning.

Each time it happens, it reminds me to resolve to leave future chicks alone.

Yeah the silkie dad is quite small and has had wry neck in the past. The mom is a sebright and lays teeny tiny eggs so the chick is soooo tiny. I think this little guy didnt have a chance. I keep telling myself it would of been a rooster to make myself feel better.

 

[Rachnicko]

Sorry to hear about your hatch @Katejc, I’m sure knowing you tried helps, and I would have done the same.
I think maybe it’s a bit different when you only have a small backyard flock that are destined to be pets. We recently lost a pullet who was 11 months and seemingly happy and healthy. The only resolve I have, is maybe there was an underlying issue as she had pasty butt as a chick, and her navel was exposed - although we didn’t hatch her.
All part of the circle of life I guess, but hope it wasn’t too hard to find.