Hands on hatching and help

[casportpony]

Quick update on the buff chick we named tweety. She looks like she is doing better blessedly. Not out of the woods by any means but she has started to try to walk and she can even hold her head up for a second. She is also doing small chirps every so often. I'm hoping this means she will actually start to get better.

Sometimes my chicks and peachicks hatch with edema on their heads and necks, and that excess fluid makes it hard for them to hold their heads up. These chicks are usually the ones that also have huge yolk bellies, so the combo of the belly and the fluid on the head/neck can slow them down for a day or two, but as long as they absorb the yolk, they usually live. Did what I wrote make sense, 'cause I confuse myself a lot, lol.

This is the type of swelling that I mean:

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Sometimes my chicks and peachicks hatch with edema on their heads and necks, and that excess fluid makes it hard for them to hold their heads up. These chicks are usually the ones that also have huge yolk bellies, so the combo of the belly and the fluid on the head/neck can slow them down for a day or two, but as long as they absorb the yolk, they usually live. Did what I wrote make sense, 'cause I confuse myself a lot, lol. This is the type of swelling that I mean:

Omg yes that's exactly what it looks like. Her tummy seems a bit swollen as well but all her yolk was absorbed. I'm so happy to know that this can go away. Thank you so much for sharing that!!!!

 

[h2oratt]

Do you mean like for illness or ointments?

For illness. I guess she is doing better. I am so glad for you.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

For illness. I guess she is doing better. I am so glad for you.

Yes I always keep antibiotics here at home for my chickens. Just in case. our vet recommended keeping a broad spectrum on hand and it has been very helpful. thanks.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Here is our little sticky chick resting. The red is from the brooder light. I didnt wash her head and had trouble with her wings so they still look wet even though they are dry. She is so precious.

 

[casportpony]

Quote: Oh, what I mean by the yolk is that sometimes they fail to digest it properly, not that it was hanging out after hatching. Here is a 10 day old chick that still had a yolk belly at 10 days old, which is abnormal...







-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

@jenniferlamar70 , don't worry about the belly unless it's still there after a week, 'cause most of the time they will resolve on their own.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Here is our little sticky chick resting. The red is from the brooder light. I didnt wash her head and had trouble with her wings so they still look wet even though they are dry. She is so precious.

-Kathy

 

[rossfam06]

Well today has already been exciting. Firstly, when I went out this morning I was greeted by the sight of my very skittish frizzle hen with five chicks I didn't even know she was broody! I have no idea where her nest was, and she won't let me get close to her or the babies before she takes off, but I did manage to count them, at least. If she successfully keeps them alive (I can't catch her to move her and them to a safe place) then they are going to be very skittish.

And then while I was out there doing other things all the birds started running for the coop and my dog perked up and started walking towards something. I thought it was a predator. Nope! Potbelly pig. So I had it in my yard and chicken run for awhile until it wandered away. Wonder if I'll be seeing more of it.

That's so cool!!!

. I am so sorry about your little chick.

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Oh, what I mean by the yolk is that sometimes they fail to digest it properly, not that it was hanging out after hatching. Here is a 10 day old chick that still had a yolk belly at 10 days old, which is abnormal... -Kathy

@jenniferlamar70 , don't worry about the belly unless it's still there after a week, 'cause most of the time they will resolve on their own. -Kathy

Thank you so much for all the information. I didn't know this. I always thought it was just when the yoke wasn't absorbed. He stomach does seem to be going down already and she is starting to try to walk around. Im no expert but I do think she is going to pull through. is it a low temp or high humidity that causes this? I use a high humidity around hatch but not very high during incubation. My hygrometers are not very dependable I'm finding. This incubator sometimes runs a little low in the evenings so it could be that too.