I just hatched 4 chicks out of the dozen my incubator holds. Apparently a couple of my hens are saving it cause the other eggs were not fertile. Anyways the first one that hatched had to spend the night in the brooder without any company and I noticed the chick was not drinking any water all day. I have heard before it may be required to dip their beak in the water to get em goin. I was very careful and I only dunked it for a split second and the bird started shaking and it went limp. The chick was gasping and it was obviously dying. It would open its mouth for a second like it was gasping for air. I freaked out and about lost it! I picked the bird up in an effort to save it. I turned it upside down and slighty pumped its chest and blew in its mouth every time it opened its mouth. I didnt do mouth to mouth, I just blew into its mouth from a few inches away. I think I could actually hear the water in its lung. After what felt like an eternity some water came out into my hand and the bird then started breathing and within a minute or two it was back to its normal self. Needless to say i won't be dunking anymore beaks under water. My kids would'a been devastated if they had awoke to find her gone. Here is a pic of the 4 chicks.
