Early Hatch, Weak Chick

[Backyard Bounty]

It's our first time hatching in a new Brinsea mini advance. Today is day 20/21, and early this morning the first chick hatched. It seemed very weak - when it tries to lift it's head it just flops all over the place. It has hardly opened it's eyes, can't stand and can hardly lift it's head. I presumed this was normal
Chick 2 has now hatched and is much stronger and more active. Eyes open, sleepy, but alert and standing some of the time. Quite a contrast to chick 1.
Do you think chick 1 is sick, or just weak as it hatched early?
I have read about using vit E etc but I want to avoid opening the bator as there are more eggs yet to hatch - remember we are only on day 20/21.
Chicks are Polands.
We hatch chicks using broodies regularly, but haven't used an incubator for years.
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[abraga]

I never have hatched polands..but I did hatch a bunch of seramas this year using the brinsea advance. I noticed some of my chicks were weaker than others at hatch. If they were resting ok..i just kept them in the bator while the others hatched..but if I had other chicks knocking them around I took them out. I also started them on nutri drench drops right away. One thing I really like about the brinsea is the dome. If I need to open it at hatch, i put a towel over it to open it and don't lose to much humidity.

 

[abraga]

I think hatching is a stressful time for chicks to. It's very hard work to get out of the egg. Hopefully...its just exhausted and needs a bit if rest. Hatchlings can go 24 hrs without eating..so..if it seems to be resting ok..i would leave it while the others hatch..as long as it's not getting knocked around. The others will motivate it.

 

[Backyard Bounty]

Thanks that's what I hoped. Will watch and wait.

 

[Backyard Bounty]

Just a quick update...
Chick 3 has now hatched and is looking good. Chick 1 is definitely stronger, but still seems unable to hold it's head for more than a second or two - it either falls back to the floor or waggles over backwards. Something seems wrong. Hoping a night in the bator will improve things...

 

[Backyard Bounty]

Please, we still need advice...

Chick 1 is slowing getting stronger - i have been dripping liquid poultry vitamins into it. However, it's still not eating - at all - and tires very quickly. Any ideas? I guess if we can't encourage it to eat, we'll lose it? It's been 56hrs on what I can drip feed into it.

I assisted chick 4 after 12hrs zipping - it has hatched looking well, but exhausted and has a crooked foot. Hopefully a splint will fix that. Hasn't started eating yet either, but only hatched 24hrs ago so not overly worried yet.