Had to humanely euthanize newly hatched chick!!

[mopargal1972]

I don't ever want to have to do this again! This is the second hatch that I have had where this has happened. I had 1 little chick who hatched with it's intestines outside of its body! Is there something that I could have done to prevent this from happening? I have had several hatches this year already and this is only the second chick that this has happened to. Thankfully, I am a vet tech, so I was able to take it to my work and have it euthanized, I still felt bad though. I have had a problem with high humidity in the incubator that I use for hatching, could that have anything to do with it?

 

[mopargal1972]

Anyone have any idas?

 

[HennyJenny]

I am sorry this happened. I don't have an answer but there is a sticky thread at the top of incubating and hatching that has a list of common problems and the possibles reasons (humidity or temp too high too low etc.) - if it's not there - this will bump you back up for the experts to see!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

I am so sorry about your chick. That must have been hard. I have no clue as to what could have happened.

 

[yotetrapper]

Certain it was his intestines and not just the leftovers from the yolk sac?

 

[debilorrah]

This is really gross, but it is the quickest and most humane as the chick dies immediately. Cut it's head off with scissors.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

That's so sad, having to deal with that... I imagine it's just an unfortunate malformation in the egg, I don't know if there's anything you can do to prevent it. The hatching experts ought to know more, though--hopefully someone will have some ideas for you.

 

[mopargal1972]

Quote:
Oh yes, they were even contracting like intestines do (too move food/waste along). The vet thought it was his/her small intestine and that it's body wall just never closed. I agree that removing the head is quick and humane, but since I had access to pain meds and Beuthanasia (solution used for euthanasia), I figured that I would use them. We gave it a high dose of Butorphanol beforehand, so at least he/she was feeling pretty good beforehand. I now in dogs and cats it can happen sometimes too and if the owner is willing to try, we can do surgery to repair the defect, but a day old chick would not be a good anesthesia candidate. If it happens again, maybe I will try, I took sterile gauze and saline home with me just in case (the intestines need to stay moist). Anyways, thanks for your advice/help. If anyone else has experienced this, let me know and I will check out that sticky thread.