HELP - chick hatching need help

[Brigabart]

I have a chick who is 1-2 days late hatching - it is partially out, but there was some blood and after a good look, it is still attached to the lower shell - the umbilicus is not all the way in. Hopefully you can see in this photo. It mostly is just lying in one place sleeping and then sometimes cheeping. What is the best in this situation? Leave it? I sprayed some wound spray in the area because I noticed that it had pooped, so I cleaned the poop out and sprayed. Should I apply iodine to dry? Just wait? Thank you! Right now it's lying in the incubator with the eggshell around it's bum.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I say wait. I think the chick still has to finish doing something for the shell to detach, like absorning something maybe. But my hatching experience is very limited.

I certainly would try to remove the shell.

 

[Brigabart]

Didn't make it Thanks for your answer though - it seemed to have a few issues besides not having absorbed everything yet, but at least it was fast.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Didn't make it Thanks for your answer though - it seemed to have a few issues besides not having absorbed everything yet, but at least it was fast.

Glad it was fast, sorry for the loss.

I thought in that condition it might have more issues. And that is par for the course... I'm sure most of us hatching have had some make it real close but not all the way... but you did look for a solution to see if you could help. And I'm sure did your best!

Thanks for the update... every single one adds to my learning base to help myself and others in the future.

 

[libbythompson15]

My broody hen and seven eggs were killed last night by feral cats. I awoke at 3 am to the sound of cats fighting and newly-hatched peeping!!! I have been keeping a close eye (and ear) on them, so I knew that they would hatch in the next couple of days. I had been hearing movement for a week, and peeping from the eggs a couple of days. I am sick that only one chick was hatched and still alive, one partially hatched, and three still (maybe) viable. I am sure the partially hatched one will die, as it also was still attached to the shell. I have the chick in a box under a light in the bathroom, but what do I do with the three eggs that haven't hatched? They were very cold (44 degrees last night) and so far I have them in a box with a hot water bottle covered with a towel. I haven't had to do this yet, so I am scared they will not make it. Any advice for someone who is on a fixed income and expected the hen to do all the mothering?!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My broody hen and seven eggs were killed last night by feral cats. I awoke at 3 am to the sound of cats fighting and newly-hatched peeping!!! I have been keeping a close eye (and ear) on them, so I knew that they would hatch in the next couple of days. I had been hearing movement for a week, and peeping from the eggs a couple of days. I am sick that only one chick was hatched and still alive, one partially hatched, and three still (maybe) viable. I am sure the partially hatched one will die, as it also was still attached to the shell. I have the chick in a box under a light in the bathroom, but what do I do with the three eggs that haven't hatched? They were very cold (44 degrees last night) and so far I have them in a box with a hot water bottle covered with a towel. I haven't had to do this yet, so I am scared they will not make it. Any advice for someone who is on a fixed income and expected the hen to do all the mothering?!

Hi, welcome to BYC!

WOW, sorry for your loss.

You didn't lock them up?

I found cold eggs when my broody went to the wrong nest and thought about tossing. It had been only a couple hours. But put them back under her and surprisingly 3 out of 6 hatched.

The hot water bottle is a good ideal... if you can get your temp up around 100 degrees would be best. Also, some people will use regular incandescent light bulbs as their heat source. It's important to make sure they still have air. Don't know if a towel on top will retain heat well enough... might consider covering with a layer of card board. Maintaining the proper humidity for hatching might be more difficult... but life does find a way!

Check out a wool hen for the chicks that survive, you might teach them how to use it by putting the warm water bottle inside the wool hen until they recognize it as their warm place. If you don't have anything wool, as I don't... I bet thrift and second hand store have something made from wool for cheap that you can cut up. Or if you know someone who has a hard time getting rid of stuff they just might have something wool.

One other heat source that might work for your eggs and is popular for chicks is a heating pad.

Good luck!