help! half born chicks!

[limsan]

My hen gave birth 2 days ago to 6 healthy chicks. Today I discovered she had kicked out of the nest 2 half opened shells with live chicks in them. I helped them out of the rest of the shells but I am freaking out-they appear fairly strong-they cheep off and on but, am I doing the right thing? I have them on a hot water bottle with warm wet cloths. Help anyone. What is next?

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Are they completely out of the shell. If so they need to dry off. Put them in a brooder with a light they need to be warm The brooder should be 95 degrees. If you don't have a brooder get a box or storage container and use that. put paper towels down for them to walk on. The main thing is to get them dry and warm.

 

[limsan]

Hi again-thanks Micki for responding to my post so quickly. Much appreciated. Yes,the chicks are completly out of the shell although I did help some. Is this ok? My fear is are they premature? should I have left them alone. The mother was no longer interested in them. Is this because she is to busy with her brood or does she know something I don't? Anyway,to late for that. I don't have any equipment for helping chicks.I put them atop a towel atop a heating pad. I keep checking the temp. as I am afraid of cooking them. They are still damp but,they are struggling to stand. (not very well so far) Should I put them back with the mom when they are dry? Also, there is a 3'd egg. Not cracked yet. I put it in with the chicks. Is this warm enough? Any other stuff I should know? Oh yeah, they seem to like the dark--is this better than having a bright light on? Thanks for any help.