Hatching chick has INSECT EGGS on it!! Help?

rhondaj731

Hatching
7 Years
May 25, 2012
2
0
7
I know you're not supposed to help a chick hatch. I have a hen setting and the eggs started to hatch sunday. Egg #6 was hatching when I got home yesterday. I pulled back a bit of shell by its face and you could see a cluster of something. I can tell they are insect eggs, maybe fly eggs? Looks like fly eggs when googled. So, I cleaned them off best I could and tucked the egg under the hen. I went back out about 2hours later and it was still in the shell, but kind of drying. I spritzed w/ warm water and tucked back in under hen. Got home today and he was face down in the nest, some of the shell dried to him. I picked him up and he had maggots under his wings and belly. He is peeping like crazy, so I took him in the house and rinsed him in warm water cleaning all the visible maggots off him. I rechecked him about an hour later and looking closely, I see MORE in his little ear canal. One side is closed up, and the other side is open. I cleaned, sterilized and removed 12 maggots, I don't see anymore. Gave him a few drops of apple cider vinegar and water, he's swallowing and peeping but seems weak :( Im hoping for the best but I don't know...is there something I could have done?
I noticed a few flies in the hen house, but I didn't expect this...all others are fluffy and healthy. Any info is appreciated, I'm just worried about him :(
 
Never had that happen, but have had ants go for them right away. Maybe there was a rotten egg or something that made them come to him.
If none got inside him or her they may be ok. I would put some sugar in the water to, I add a couple teaspoons to a gallon waterer to them them a boost in their first watering.
 
I help chicks hatch if needed. To heck with the strongest surviving I try to save them all. If the shell sticks to them I will kinda lightly rinse where it's stuck under warm water, being careful to keep the water away from the chicks head. It peels off pretty easy like that. If you see red veins or any blood stop though because it hasn't absorb all the yolk sac yet. I rarely lose any chicks, I think they all deserve a chance.
jumpy.gif
 
He didn't make it :(
Thanks for the replies though. I've never let a hen set, this was a sneaky one! Just wanted to be sure if I should have done something or if it was a fluke thing.
 

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