Hatching chicks, an unhatched chick broke its yolk

[Jill K]

Hi, I am new to this forum and new to hatching chicks, and I’m very concerned about 3 chicks that have pipped and not zipped and it’s going on 24 hours for 2 of them, and with the third one I just discovered yolk leaking out if the shell.
I’m not sure when to intervene, but it seems like I should do something. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Susan Skylark]

I’ve seen them go 60 hours and hatch, I wouldn’t intervene, especially on the ruptured yolk one, if they can’t hatch 95% of the time there is a reason and they often die or have massive deformity even after rescue. The yolk is absorbed into the abdomen which then seals itself off before hatching, intervene too early and you risk a disemboweled chick, especially on one with a ruptured yolk, much better to let him fade away in shell than you having to put him down because his guts are hanging out. It is hard, but death is a natural part of life.

 

[Jill K]

I’ve seen them go 60 hours and hatch, I wouldn’t intervene, especially on the ruptured yolk one, if they can’t hatch 95% of the time there is a reason and they often die or have massive deformity even after rescue. The yolk is absorbed into the abdomen which then seals itself off before hatching, intervene too early and you risk a disemboweled chick, especially on one with a ruptured yolk, much better to let him fade away in shell than you having to put him down because his guts are hanging out. It is hard, but death is a natural part of life.

Thank you for the advice. What you described that could happen, did happen. I didn’t know what to do, the chick was drowning in egg yolk. So the poor chick hatched and I need to put it down. I don’t know how to handle this, most humane, it is so weak and disemboweled. Please advise. I’m sorry for even having to ask.

 

[Yardmom]

So sorry to hear about your chick. There is a lot of pleasure in the hatching process, but more often than not a few just don't make it. If needed a sharp shears to the neck of the chick can end the suffering.

 

[Jill K]

So sorry to hear about your chick. There is a lot of pleasure in the hatching process, but more often than not a few just don't make it. If needed a sharp shears to the neck of the chick can end the suffering.

Thank you for your reply... I used the "diving" method...

So, in the time that it took me to figure out what to do with the chick and the mess of all the yolk in the incubator, 2 other chicks hatched and of course rolled around and got yolk on their down. Which, with one of the chicks being yellow I didn't know right away. My husband and I did a quick temporary warmer and very quickly washed out the incubator, and put them back and and they seem to be doing good so far.
Except that now these last 2 chicks have stuck-down downy feathers and they aren't getting fluffy. I have taken them out and wiped them with warm water, held them in soft flannel to somewhat dry them, and back into the incubator to dry. Made sure their eyes and vent area are clear and their wings are flapping.
Aside from giving them a full-on "soaking" bath, I don't know what to do about their feathers being "matty" and not fluffy. Will they do ok in the brooder with the other chicks? Will they stay warm without a full body of fluff?