Help! First Chick Hatched — What is that in shell?!

[Shelbysoobs]

@Debbie292d Hi Debbie, I saw a comment or thread mentioning to leave the chick in the incubator longer when there’s suspected issues and they often resolve. My shrink wrapped assisted hatch chick is in the incubator and fluffing up, but seems a little more wobbly and seems to have tremors or leg/neck issues. I can leave her in there as long as I need to because she is likely the last egg hatching (no activity on the 3 maran eggs), and if I offer nutri drench water or food to see if she perks up, would I do that in the incubator too, or move her to the brooder with the other 9 chicks? Thanks for all your wisdom I learned SO much reading tons all day yesterday and today.

The chick keeps getting stuck on its back and then chirping REALLY loud and frantic it’s been out of the shell for 3 hours.

 

[Shelbysoobs]

So, when you say tried zipping did the chick turn in shell but just didn't break shell? Or did it just keep trying to zip but only making pip hole larger?

I’m not sure exactly what the issue is, but it’s been out of the shell for 12 hours and has been stuck flopping on its back unable to move its neck and legs to right itself, if I try putting him on his belly or feet it will immediately flop over to its back again and thrash. I think whatever issue it has is why it was unable to turn and zip.

 

[Huntmaster]

I’m not sure exactly what the issue is, but it’s been out of the shell for 12 hours and has been stuck flopping on its back unable to move its neck and legs to right itself, if I try putting him on his belly or feet it will immediately flop over to its back again and thrash. I think whatever issue it has is why it was unable to turn and zip.

Give it some time but you are probably right that it may have some issues. I would give it at least 24 hours hopefully it won't need to be culled. Could still be very week from long hatch wishing the best for you and your hatchling. Good Luck and let us know how things go.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

@Debbie292d Hi Debbie, I saw a comment or thread mentioning to leave the chick in the incubator longer when there’s suspected issues and they often resolve. My shrink wrapped assisted hatch chick is in the incubator and fluffing up, but seems a little more wobbly and seems to have tremors or leg/neck issues. I can leave her in there as long as I need to because she is likely the last egg hatching (no activity on the 3 maran eggs), and if I offer nutri drench water or food to see if she perks up, would I do that in the incubator too, or move her to the brooder with the other 9 chicks? Thanks for all your wisdom I learned SO much reading tons all day yesterday and today.

The chick keeps getting stuck on its back and then chirping REALLY loud and frantic it’s been out of the shell for 3 hours.

Assisted hatches will almost always take longer to get their feet under themselves usually anywhere from 24 -48 hours. After giving an assisted hatch a full 24 hours I give Poultry Cell because of the B vitamins that help with leg issues.

 

[Shelbysoobs]

Assisted hatches will almost always take longer to get their feet under themselves usually anywhere from 24 -48 hours. After giving an assisted hatch a full 24 hours I give Poultry Cell because of the B vitamins that help with leg issues.

Is that similar to nutri drench? I am headed to TSC And will look for those.

 

[Shelbysoobs]

Give it some time but you are probably right that it may have some issues. I would give it at least 24 hours hopefully it won't need to be culled. Could still be very weak from long hatch wishing the best for you and your hatchling. Good Luck and let us know how things go.

Thank you, I will absolutely wait the 24 hrs and try offering the vitamins. I posted a new thread with a video of the poop chick.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Is that similar to nutri drench? I am headed to TSC And will look for those.

Yes, but with a much more comprehensive vitamin profile.

 

[Debbie292d]

@Debbie292d Hi Debbie, I saw a comment or thread mentioning to leave the chick in the incubator longer when there’s suspected issues and they often resolve. My shrink wrapped assisted hatch chick is in the incubator and fluffing up, but seems a little more wobbly and seems to have tremors or leg/neck issues. I can leave her in there as long as I need to because she is likely the last egg hatching (no activity on the 3 maran eggs), and if I offer nutri drench water or food to see if she perks up, would I do that in the incubator too, or move her to the brooder with the other 9 chicks? Thanks for all your wisdom I learned SO much reading tons all day yesterday and today.

The chick keeps getting stuck on its back and then chirping REALLY loud and frantic it’s been out of the shell for 3 hours.

That is normal for them at first to be on their back and flail around trying to find their feet. Then they splat down on their bellies too, making it look like they're dead.

When I'm pulling chicks out of the incubator and notice one with splayed legs or something else off with it, I've put those back in the incubator for about 24 hours. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't and I've treated those that it didn't work for splayed legs with Vetwrap.

If it's their hip joints that seem to be the problem, like they sit on their haunches and can't walk, I had one of those I put it butt first in a narrow plastic toothpick holder I found that fit him in it perfectly. I set him in the incubator, and he slept. I'd check every couple of hours, waking him up, and he didn't cry, but just went back to sleep. I think he felt better like that. I left it in the incubator overnight. I pulled him out the next day to check, and he could walk and turned out perfect. If it hadn't worked, I'd have put him back in for another 12 hours or so and keep trying. I'd have had to hand feed/water him by that point, too, so it's great if we catch these things shortly after they're hatched, as they can live 72 hours absorbing their yolk before needing water and nourishment.

 

[Shelbysoobs]

That is normal for them at first to be on their back and flail around trying to find their feet. Then they splat down on their bellies too, making it look like they're dead.

When I'm pulling chicks out of the incubator and notice one with splayed legs or something else off with it, I've put those back in the incubator for about 24 hours. Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't and I've treated those that it didn't work for splayed legs with Vetwrap.

If it's their hip joints that seem to be the problem, like they sit on their haunches and can't walk, I had one of those I put it butt first in a narrow plastic toothpick holder I found that fit him in it perfectly. I set him in the incubator, and he slept. I'd check every couple of hours, waking him up, and he didn't cry, but just went back to sleep. I think he felt better like that. I left it in the incubator overnight. I pulled him out the next day to check, and he could walk and turned out perfect. If it hadn't worked, I'd have put him back in for another 12 hours or so and keep trying. I'd have had to hand feed/water him by that point, too, so it's great if we catch these things shortly after they're hatched, as they can live 72 hours absorbing their yolk before needing water and nourishment.

Thank you!! Tonight at 9 PM will be 24 hours. So are you saying tomorrow/monday at 9 PM, 48 hours after hatch, is when you will start trying to correct the issue if he hasn’t found his feet by then? Because it can take 24 hrs, plus 24 hrs due to the assisted hatch? And at 24 hours will you start with the vet wrap or proceed to the cup? And then start syringe feeding poultry cell water at the 48 hr mark?

 

[Debbie292d]

They get Nutra-Drench water after their first drinks of water so a few hours after they're in the brooder. A day of fresh water, then probiotic water if any got pasty butt but none usually do.

If they were fuzzy and seeming fine when I see they have splayed legs, I just bind them with a very thin strip of vet wrap right away. I don't wait any time for anything as treatment is asap for best results. Splayed legs take 3 days. Curly toes we had once, and those took just 1 day. (Taped feet to a little piece of cardboard.)