Hatched chick distended belly?

[Anastar]

This is my 4th time hatching chicks and the first time I’ve ever had a problem. It’s now Day 23 and 3 eggs hadn’t hatched. 1 had pipped and made a breathing hole and was breathing but no progress had been made for 24 hours. I was worried it was getting tired and wouldn’t make it.

I could feel the membrane was dry and tight and after reading and reading, I gently wet it with warm water and carefully helped pick off pieces of the shell. The chick kept trying to get out and the membrane was so stiff and dry. Eventually he popped out of the membrane, but there was yolk still attached and I don’t know if it was the yolk or membrane, but it’s very stiff all around him.

I put him back in the incubator and have been watching him for hours and I’m worried he’s going to die. He isn’t fluffing up, he only occasionally flops and moves, but I can still see him breathing. His belly is very big and distended, which I’ve never seen.

Is there anything I can do to save him? Is it my fault he’s dying? I tried to keep the humidity as steady as possible. If 5 other chicks hatched just fine, then why didn’t this poor guy?? I feel so terrible.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

@casportpony @Wyorp Rock @nuthatched @BDutch @Cheekychook12

 

[chickengr]

just keep him in incubator. I sometimes have chicks/ducklings/goslings like that. I just keep them in incubator (even up to 3 days) till they absorb yolk and get strength. they usually perk up at the end of day 2. when they start running in incubator they are ready to get out.

 

[Debbie292d]

I too have had a few weak chicks in my day. I hatch about 40 chicks a week and there usually is one a week I leave in there for another entire day.

It should be okay. If there aren't eggs still in there, I'd turn the temp down to 95F though.

 

[Anastar]

I too have had a few weak chicks in my day. I hatch about 40 chicks a week and there usually is one a week I leave in there for another entire day.

It should be okay. If there aren't eggs still in there, I'd turn the temp down to 95F though.

Have they ever had that distended belly? And his feathers are still so dry and stiff, not wet or fluffy.

 

[Debbie292d]

Have they ever had that distended belly? And his feathers are still so dry and stiff, not wet or fluffy.

Slightly distended but not that noticeable. I'd give it 24 hours and I'm sure that'll go down.

The feathers that get stuck from the goop in the egg eventually just wear off. If it's that bad, you could try rinsing it in warm water and using a wet paper towel to try get it off but then blow dry it on warm or it could die from being wet and cold.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It’s now Day 23 and 3 eggs hadn’t hatched.
Is there anything I can do to save him? Is it my fault he’s dying?
I tried to keep the humidity as steady as possible. If 5 other chicks hatched just fine, then why didn’t this poor guy?? I feel so terrible.

Five eggs hatched. It is highly unlikely you did anything wrong. You have no reason to feel guilty. You had five successes.

There is a reason this egg did not hatch on time and under its own power. That is most likely due to something being wrong with the egg or chick to start with. You did everything you could. About half of the chicks I help don't make it. Not because I did something wrong but the chick was not meant to make it to start with. By helping it you have given it its best chance. Now it is up to the chick.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Water belly is a fairly common birth defect in calves, wouldn’t be surprised if birds have their own version, just a weird statistical anomaly, nothing to be done to treat or prevent it, if you hatch enough eggs or pull enough calves you’ll run into all sorts of weird stuff!

 

[TarikNecefli]

I like This suject.