Found half hatched chick..he is alive..what to do?

[MuckyPuppy]

I'm glad he is so far holding his own.

I have 8 healthy chicks right now. I had to help four of them because it was my fault they couldn't get out of their shells as I had shrink wrapped them getting the others out of the incubator (one of my first chicks died in the incubator). The all ones that I helped were pretty floppy at first (probably tired out from trying so hard to hatch, they were really stuck). I thought one of them would definately die as it was unable to stand or hold it's head up for around 24 hours. Then over the next day or two it recovered and now it is one of the biggest and strongest. It is now (almost 6 days old) jumping and flapping it's little wings in a bid to get to the lightbulbs over their brooder.

 

[rekabnivek]

Our local farm supply stores carry a product called Chick Saver, it is full of electrolytes. They say it can help weak chicks. So that may be something to look into.

 

[minigoat]

He has started to peck a little at the crumbles.He falls forward when he tries to eat.I have been dipping his beak and he will sometimes drink,sometimes not.He does not stay up very long,goes back and gets under the towel,like he would get under his mom.I wake him up every couple of hours for water and to encourage him to eat.I mixed some Grogel for him,but he doesn't seem interested.I think I might have some of the Chick Saver, will go and check.He is smaller than the chicks that are with their mother.If he gets going,do you think I could put him back with his mother? Or should I bring one of the others in to be with him?I was so happy he made it through the night and he does seem to be making very slow progress.

 

[NottinghamChicks]

I would give hime a day on the chick saver and then try him back with mom. In that environment he will have both Nature and Nurture. If he cannot make it there it probably wasn't meant to be

 

[minigoat]

REUNITED!!!He is back with mom and the other chicks.He got to the point,if I was not with him,he would peep. I was going to wait until morning so I could keep an eye on him during the day,but he insisted!I will keep checking him and make sure he is under her at dark,but I think he will be fine.He got right in the feeder with the other chicks.I am a little worried about him drinking,but think he will learn faster with his family than with me.He still knows he is a chicken,I think if he had stayed with me much longer,he might have bonded to me too much to adapt.We did name him(her?) Goober Pea.Thank you all so much for your support and ideas.This is a wonderful forum.

 

[NottinghamChicks]

Quote:

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Do you have the chick in a box or something inside the oven? I am picturing this chick in your oven. Some people have used heating pads. It will take it awhile to find its legs. Good luck!!!

 

[minigoat]

When he was in the oven I had him in a little tin that candy came in,with fluffy socks.I tried a box,but it was not warm enough,the tin got warm from sitting on the bottom of the oven near the pilot light.After he got warm, I put him in a box with a heating pad.I made a little tent with the towel and he would get under it,like he was under his mom.I just checked him,all chicks are under mom.I am hoping tomorrow he will be doing so well I won't even know which one he is..he has a big white spot on his head,but so do two others.Keeping my fingers crossed!!